Injuries Plague AFCON Quarter-Finalists, Including Ounahi

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco has delivered a significant blow to Arab national teams, with injuries ending the campaigns of three prominent stars in the decisive stages.

The shock began in the Moroccan national team camp, where player Azzedine Ounahi was seen using crutches before their Round of 16 match against Tanzania. National team coach Walid Regragui confirmed that Ounahi suffered a calf muscle tear, stating that his treatment period would last between five and six weeks. This rules him out of the remainder of the tournament, posing a significant technical challenge for the Moroccan team.

The Egyptian and Algerian national teams were not immune to this crisis. The medical staff of the Egyptian national team announced that Mohamed Hamdy suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear during their Round of 16 match against Benin.

The injury ended his participation in the tournament, with the possibility of a lengthy absence from the pitch until the end of the season, representing a significant loss for the Pharaohs.

As for the Algerian national team, they lost the services of their player Jaouen Hadjam after he sustained a serious ankle injury during their match against Burkina Faso. Coach Vladimir Petkovic confirmed that the player would return to his club, Swiss side Young Boys, to complete his treatment, ruling him out of the remainder of the Desert Foxes' matches.

These injuries add to the pressure on the remaining Arab national teams in the tournament, amidst fan hopes that they can overcome these absences and continue to compete for the continental title.