Algeria’s AFCON 2025 Shake-Up: Awar Out, Replacement Named
19 December 2025
AFCON 2025 setback for Algeria as Awar is ruled out
Hossam Awar, the Algerian international midfielder from Al-Ittihad in Jeddah, will miss the Greens' AFCON 2025 campaign after muscular pains emerged during the team’s latest training session on Thursday evening. Medical tests confirmed the injury, according to a federation statement posted on Facebook.
In a Friday update, coach Vladimir Petkovic decided that Awar would not participate in the training camp or the finals. Himad Abdulali was called to replace him in the squad, as Algeria prepares for the continental championship.
Awar has endured several injuries this season, limiting his appearances for Al-Ittihad. He has featured in 14 matches for the club: seven in the domestic league, four in the Elite AFC Champions League, plus two in the King’s Cup and one in the Saudi Super Cup, totaling 1,041 minutes on the pitch.
Petkovic previously opted not to include Awar in the Arab Cup to keep him available for AFCON.
Final note: the Greens’ roster shifts but the goal remains the same—bring back a fully fit Awar, or at least a sharp one who can make an impact when it counts.
Punchline 1: If injuries were a transfer, Algeria just did a freebie on the bench. Punchline 2: Don’t worry, the squad depth is deep; the real test is who can bench press drama on the way to AFCON.
