We can call this the butterfly effect. Last October, Algeria faced Uganda in a qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup while the Fennecs have already validated their ticket for the World Cup. But at the end of the match, a sad scene spoils the party.
Indeed, in one of the last actions of the match, Amine Gouiri, the Algerian striker from Olympique de Marseille, was cut up by the opposing goalkeeper Salim Maggula. Result, a long absence for the player trained at Olympique de Marseille forced to withdraw from the African Cup of Nations.
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Out, however, he made his return to the pitch with his team this weekend during the defeat against FC Nantes. Vladimir Petkovic, surely aware of this possibility, preferred not to take the risk of calling up a returning player, opting for the lesser known (at the time) Adil Boulbina.
Everyone knows the story. The dribbler from Al-Duhail SC in Qatar was able to find a place in the Fennecs group. And when his coach called on him during extra time in the round of 16 against the Democratic Republic of Congo, he didn’t tremble. And from his foot came a missile qualifying Algeria for the quarter-finals, allowing an entire people to dream again of a crazy feat at the CAN.
Sometimes a small decision can change a lot of things, and the Gouiri – Boulbina case could well be the ultimate proof. What if it was him, the feeling that no one saw coming?
To summarize
Injured by a tackle in October, Gouiri (Algeria) misses the African Cup of Nations. Replaced by Boulbina, unknown at the time, the latter scored the qualifying goal in the 8th against the DRC. A decision that changes everything for the Fennecs.
