Saudi Stars Shuffle: Injuries and Returns Mark Training Ahead of Ivory Coast and Algeria Friendlies

Injury Woes Ahead of Twin Friendlies

The Saudi Football Federation confirmed that two members of the Saudi national team were absent from today’s training as part of preparations for two friendly matches.

The Green will meet Ivory Coast this Friday and then Algeria on the following Tuesday, ahead of the Arab Cup due next month in Qatar.

The federation, via its official site, noted the absence of Jihad Zakri, a defender from Al-Qadisiyah, due to knee pain, while Ziad Al-Jahni, a midfielder from Al-Ahli, did not participate because of a cold.

Additionally, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, winger for Al-Ittihad, did not complete the session due to muscle pains.

Return of the Captain

Today’s training also saw the return of captain Salem Al-Dosari of the national team and Hassan Kadsh of Al-Ittihad, with both appearing in team drills after being cleared physically.

The Green are set to conclude preparations with a training session at 6:15 PM (KSA time) on Thursday, on the secondary pitch of King Abdullah Sports City, open to media for the first 15 minutes.

The session was held on the secondary pitch under French coach Hervé Renard, who emphasized ball possession and set-piece routines in these drills.

Offensive Weapon

The national team’s official X account announced yesterday the return of Saleh Al-Shehri, the Green’s forward, to full training after recovering from an injury.

Al-Shehri had been withdrawn from recent group training due to a muscular issue, but medical staff later indicated the problem was not serious and he rejoined practice in preparation for Ivory Coast.

Multiple Injuries

The injury list extended beyond Al-Shehri, with Saad Al-Mousa (Al-Ittihad defender) suffering a fractured ankle, Ayman Yahya (Al-Nasr winger) with a groin/hamstring issue, and Muteb Al-Harbi (Al-Hilal left-back) added on after the camp began.

Hassan Tambakti (Al-Hilal defender) also picked up an injury, prompting Renard to remove him from duty as concerns rose. Salem Al-Dosri’s absence earlier in the camp had already raised questions about readiness.

Renard then called up three more players in the past hours: Sultan Mandesh (Al-Taawoun) on the right wing and in midfield, Hassan Kadsh (Al-Ittihad) as a versatile back, and Yasser Al-Shahrani, an Al-Hilal veteran now with Al-Qadisiyah, expanding options for the defense and wings.

The French coach will leverage Mandesh’s pace on the right and in midfield, while also relying on Al-Shahrani’s experience across the backline. Kadsh is capable of covering multiple defensive positions and has rejoined the squad after a spell away.

Saudi Squad Updates

The Saudi squad now features updates after a wave of call-ups and exclusions:

Goalkeepers: Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Abdul Rahman Al-Sanabi, Mohammed Al-Yami, Riad Nagar.

Defense: Yasser Al-Shahrani, Hassan Kadsh, Jihad Zakri, Abdul-Ali Al-Omari, Walid Al-Ahmad, Ali Mujrashi, Saud Abdul Hamid, Nawaf Bashl, Mohammed Suleiman.

Midfield: Nasser Al-Dosari, Murad Hawasawi, Ziad Al-Jahni, Mohammed Kano, Abdullah Al-Kheibri, Musab Al-Juwair, Sultan Mandesh.

Attack: Salem Al-Dosri, Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Saleh Abu Shamat, Abdulrahman Al-Aboud, Marwan Al-Sahafi, Saleh Al-Shehri, Faras Al-Briqan.

Fan Anticipation

The Green are entering a new phase of preparations in a November camp in Jeddah, featuring two heavyweight friendlies against Ivory Coast and Algeria as part of intensive work ahead of the 2025 FIFA Arab Cup in Qatar.

The opening test will be against Ivory Coast on Friday, November 14, at the Enmaa Stadium, followed by a meeting with Algeria on Tuesday, November 18, at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium. These matches will serve as a true gauge of the team’s readiness given the pedigree of the opponents: Algeria won AFCON in 2019 and Ivory Coast did so on home soil in 2024.

Saudi Arabia will participate in the Arab Cup Group B, alongside Morocco, and the winners of the Oman vs Somalia and Comoros vs Yemen ties, with high expectations from fans to see the Green reclaim their place in the title picture.

The current camp forms part of the buildup to the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Green secured their place after a dramatic AFC playoff in Jeddah, beating Indonesia 3-2 and drawing 0-0 with Iraq to top the group and seal World Cup qualification.

Punchline 1: If injuries were a stealth mission, Renard would be the mastermind—the ball never stays where you expect, and neither do the players.

Punchline 2: When life gives you a crowded injury list, at least you get a lot of fresh material for the bench press—and a few extra punchlines to boot.