With seven goals and three assists in Ligue 1 for Olympique de Marseille, Algeria international forward Amine Gouiri played only twenty minutes for the Fennecs in September, ahead of Saturday’s home game against Togo in Tizi Ouzou.
Seven goals, three assists, ten involvements in Olympique de Marseille’s 22 Ligue 1 goals: Amine Gouiri’s season statistics, reported by Sport News Africa, show just how much weight he carries in the Phocaean attack, which shares the best attack in the league with PSG. On target again at Lens on Sunday 8 November, he is a key figure in a Marseille side sitting fourth, five points behind PSG.
The picture is different with the Fennecs. According to the same data, the 26-year-old forward has accumulated only 20 minutes with Algeria in September, while he has totalled 856 minutes with Marseille this season. That contrast, as head coach Brahim Hemdani, who succeeded Vladimir Petkovic, unveiled his squad on 5 November, raises a simple question: what role should Gouiri be given ahead of the double header against Togo?
At Marseille, an output that counts
Sport News Africa’s figures are precise: Gouiri has scored with 12 of his 21 shots on target and shows an 82% pass completion rate. His goal at Lens, as early as the 2nd minute, set OM on their way to a 2-1 win, before Florian Thauvin’s equaliser and Keyliane Abdallah’s goal in the 82nd minute.
The contrast with the national team is therefore stark: at Marseille, Gouiri enjoys significant playing time and features prominently in the attacking statistics, whereas in the Algeria shirt he played only twenty minutes in September.
With the Fennecs, limited playing time
Twenty minutes in September: that is Gouiri’s share in the national shirt, according to Sport News Africa. A figure that raises questions as Algeria, top of Group I with four points after their 3-1 win over Zambia in Tizi Ouzou and their 2-2 draw in Burundi, prepare to host Togo. Born in Bourgoin-Jallieu and trained at Lyon, the player chose Algeria and has one goal in four matches at the 2026 World Cup.
Competition is fierce. Mohamed Amoura, who has two goals and two assists in eight Ligue 1 matches for Nice, has not scored for the Fennecs since 14 October 2025, when he netted a brace from the penalty spot against Uganda. He was named top scorer in the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, with 10 goals in 10 matches. Brahim Hemdani included both men in his squad on 5 November. How he will share out the playing time remains to be seen.
Togo in their sights
The answer will come quickly: Algeria host Togo on Saturday 14 November in Tizi Ouzou, before the return match on Tuesday 17 November in Lomé. Two fixtures that carry weight in Group I, where the Fennecs lead with four points. For Gouiri, these two matches could be the chance to turn his Marseille output into playing time in the national shirt.