Adil Bourabaa has been called up by Algeria for the first time in his career, according to Yahoo Sports. The Le Mans defender enters the squad as a replacement for Nabil Bentaleb, who withdrew from the camp through injury.
The Algerian Football Federation confirmed the change on Thursday, Yahoo Sports reports. Bourabaa's promotion comes after Bentaleb was ruled out, a development also reported by YSscores, which said the injury forced him to leave the national team gathering.
Algeria's players have begun preparations at a training camp in Sidi Moussa, according to Algerian Radio. The camp falls under the country's CAN 2027 qualifying campaign, and the squad is working ahead of its upcoming fixtures.
Speaking about the opportunity, Bourabaa said the players intend to give everything for their country, Africa Top Sports reported. The call-up marks a significant step for the Le Mans player, who had not previously been part of the senior Algeria setup.
Bentaleb's absence removes an experienced option from the midfield, while Bourabaa's arrival adds a fresh face to the defensive ranks. Benin Web TV also reported the withdrawal and the subsequent reinforcement, describing Bourabaa as cover brought in after Bentaleb's exit.
The timing leaves Bourabaa little room to settle in, with the squad already assembled in Sidi Moussa. Whether he features in Algeria's next qualifier will depend on how quickly he adapts to the group and what role the coaching staff has in mind for him.
