Adil Bourabaa, attacking midfielder for Le Mans FC and Algeria, picked up an ankle injury on his first cap against Niger (2-1). His withdrawal from the double-header with Togo is confirmed, and the club no longer rules out a return pushed back to 2027.
The 21-year-old Algerian attacking midfielder injured his ankle on his first official cap with the Algeria senior national team, against Niger (2-1 win) in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, reports AfricaFootUnited. A syndesmosis injury is suspected, according to La Gazette du Fennec.
At club level, Le Mans FC head coach Patrick Videira gave an alarming medical update in a press conference ahead of the Ligue 1 fixture.
A first cap that ends badly
The player has consulted several ankle specialist surgeons to decide whether immediate surgery is necessary, according to La Gazette du Fennec.
In the press conference, Patrick Videira said: “For now, the news isn’t reassuring. There could be surgery. He’s been to see various specialists, ankle surgeons. We’re waiting for their reports to decide what will be the best solution for Adil.” The operation has therefore not yet been decided, with the surgeons’ opinions still awaited.
The Le Mans boss also discussed his young player’s state of mind: “It’s hard because it’s his first, in inverted commas, major injury. We’re trying to stay very close to him, to give him a lot of strength. But yes, he’s asking himself a lot of questions, that’s natural.”
A remarkable start to the season
Before this injury, Adil Bourabaa was enjoying a remarkable start to the campaign in the Le Mans shirt: three goals and two assists in five league matches, according to La Gazette du Fennec and OnzedAfrik.
What next for Bourabaa?
An initial one-month absence was hoped for, but the club no longer rules out a blank end to 2026 and a return pushed back to 2027, according to Ouest-France and Foot en France. This scenario remains to be confirmed depending on the medical conclusions.
The surgeons’ final decision on a possible operation is still awaited, as is Le Mans FC’s match against Toulouse, scheduled for 16 October 2026.
On the national team side, Adil Bourabaa’s withdrawal from Algeria’s double-header against Togo, scheduled for 14 and 17 November 2026, is already confirmed, according to DzBallon.