West Ham United women’s team defender Inès Belloumou has been called up to Algeria’s squad for their 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations campaign, which is being held this year due to a clash with last summer's Olympic Games.
The left-back, having made the move to east London in July 2024, spent the first half of the season on loan at Italian side SS Lazio and made nine appearances in Serie A. Then, after returning to Chadwell Heath in January, the 24-year-old joined Malmö FF for the second half of the campaign.
Belloumou’s time in Sweden was successful as she helped Malmö climb up to third in the Damallsvenskan standings - the final UEFA Women’s Champions League spot - ahead of the season pausing for various international tournaments, one of which Belloumou will feature in.
Midway through 2024/25, the former France U23 player switched her international allegiance to Algeria and she will now represent her country in the Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Morocco.
Algeria, hoping to win the tournament for the first time, have been drawn in Group B alongside Botswana, nine-time winners Nigeria and Tunisia for the 15th edition of the competition.
Their campaign will get underway at Stade Père Jégo, Casablanca, against Botswana (Sunday 6 July, kick-off 8pm BST) before facing Tunisia at the same venue (Thursday 10 July, 5pm BST). In their final Group B encounter, Algeria will take on Nigeria at Stade Larbi Zaouli (Sunday 13 July, 8pm BST).
The quarter-finals will take place across 18-19 July ahead of the semi-finals, which will be played on Tuesday 22 July. Belloumou, whose Algeria debut came in a resounding 5-0 victory over South Sudan in February, will hope to be part of the showpiece on Saturday 26 July, which will take place at Olympic Stadium Rabat.
Everyone at West Ham United would like to congratulate Inès on her call-up and wish her
every success at this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations.
