Tempers flare up after Algeria are deafeated during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal game between Algeria and Nigeria at Marrakech Stadium in Morocco on 10 January 2025 © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix
Saturday Jan 24, 2026. 11:00
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has rained down punishment on the Algerian men’s national team following the side’s semi-final loss to Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinals on 10 Jan.
The Fennecs fell 2-0 to the Super Eagles at the Stade de Marrakech in Marrakesh, where chaos erupted after the final whistle.
Not happy with some of his decisions, Algerian players confronted referee Issa Sy over a handball incident that was not blown. Players and staff from the North African nation claimed after the game that the Senegalese official refused to shake hands with some of their players, which led to some Algerian players following Sy down the tunnel to confront him further after the fixture.
In addition, Luca Zidane, Algeria’s goalkeeper and son of the legendary Zinedine Zidane, was seen getting physical with members of the Nigerian team.
Algerian fans also caused trouble for the team, and their conduct has cost the Algerian Football Association (FAF) further.
Zidane and teammate Rafik Belghali both received suspensions for their behaviour after the game, while the FAF was sanctioned for fans using smoke devices, throwing objects, making obscene gestures and attempting to invade the pitch. The association was also slapped with fines for behaviour breaching multiple provisions of the CAF Disciplinary code.
The full punishment, as relayed by CAF, is as follows:
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Suspend Algeria player Luca Zidane for two (2) CAF official matches with the Algeria national team for misconduct
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Suspend Algeria player Rafik Belghali, player for four (4) CAF official matches with the Algeria national team for aggressive and intimidating behaviour towards the match referee at the end of the match. However, two (2) matches are suspended for a probationary period of one (1) year, starting from the date of the present decision.
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Impose a fine of USD 5,000 on the Algerian Football Federation for the conduct of the senior (“A”) national team, having received five (5) cautions (yellow cards) during the match, in violation of Article 130(a) of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
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Impose a fine of USD 25,000 on the Algerian Football Federation due to the inappropriate behaviour of its players and officials at the end of the match, which brought the match into disrepute, in violation of Articles 82 and 83 of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
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Impose a fine of USD 5,000 on the Algerian Football Federation for the use of smoke devices by its supporters.
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Impose a fine of USD 5,000 on the Algerian Football Federation for the throwing of objects by its supporters.
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Impose a fine of USD 10,000 on the Algerian Football Federation for failure to comply with security measures, due to the behaviour of its supporters who attempted to force the security barriers.
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Impose a fine of USD 50,000 on the Algerian Football Federation for offensive and abusive gestures (displaying banknotes) committed by its supporters towards the match officials.
In total, the FAF has been fined USD 100 000 and will be without Zidane and Belghali for its next two fixtures, which will come in the March/April international window.
By Nic Gleeson