Algeria will be without Ines Boutaleb for the rest of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after the forward suffered a serious ankle injury in the 2-0 group-stage win over Kenya.
Boutaleb sustained a severe sprain after being caught by a foul during the victory, leaving Algeria without one of their attacking options as they prepare to face Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
The injury ends what has already been a frustrating tournament for the Algeria international. She missed the opening match against Senegal before returning to action as a substitute against Morocco.
Algeria manager Farid Benstiti then named Boutaleb in the starting line-up for the final Group B match against Kenya, hoping the forward could gradually rebuild her match fitness.
However, her comeback lasted only a short time. The ankle problem has now ruled her out of the remainder of the competition, meaning she will watch Algeria’s most important match of the tournament so far from the stands.
The loss comes as the Greens enter the knockout stage after a solid group campaign. Algeria opened the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Senegal, suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat by Morocco and finished the first round with another 2-0 win, this time against Kenya.
Boutaleb’s absence removes another attacking solution at a stage of the competition when fine margins could determine who reaches the semi-finals.
Despite the setback, Algeria remain one victory away from a historic achievement. A place in the last four would also secure the national team’s qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
That would be the first time Algeria have reached the finals of the Women’s World Cup.
Boutaleb’s campaign has therefore ended in disappointing circumstances. She began the tournament by missing the Senegal match, returned from the bench against Morocco and was then selected from the start against Kenya before the injury brought her involvement to an early conclusion.
Algeria must now attempt to progress without one of their attacking weapons. Their quarter-final against Cote d’Ivoire offers the team the chance to move into the final four and, at the same time, achieve a landmark qualification for the global tournament in Brazil.
For Boutaleb, however, the remainder of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will be viewed from outside the pitch after a competition interrupted first by her initial absence, then by a brief return and finally by a serious ankle injury.