The Confederation of African Football has issued heavy sanctions against Algeria following the violent incidents that marred their quarter-final defeat to Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations 2025. In an official communiqué released on Wednesday, CAF detailed a series of punishments targeting players, officials, and the Algerian Football Federation itself, marking one of the most severe disciplinary actions in recent tournament history.
Goalkeeper Luca Zidane, son of legendary French footballer Zinedine Zidane, received a two-match suspension to be served during the 2027 AFCON qualifiers. The Granada shot-stopper was filmed engaging in confrontational behavior following the final whistle. Defender Rafik Belghali of Hellas Verona faces an even harsher punishment with a four-match ban, two of which are suspended, meaning he will miss two competitive matches immediately with two additional games hanging over him in case of any repeat offense.
The Algerian Football Federation was hit with a total fine of 100,000 US dollars for multiple infractions. The charges include improper team conduct, inappropriate behavior by players and officials after the match, use of flares by supporters, throwing of objects onto the pitch, security failures, and offensive gestures directed toward match officials. CAF described the combined penalties as reaching an almost unprecedented level.
The incidents occurred following Algeria's 2-0 defeat to Nigeria on January 10 in Marrakech. Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams scored the goals that eliminated the Fennecs from the tournament. The match was overshadowed by controversy surrounding Senegalese referee Issa Sy, particularly a penalty claim that was denied to Algeria. Video footage showed Algerian players and staff aggressively confronting the referee, who required security escort to leave the field safely. Scuffles between players from both teams erupted on the pitch, while some supporters attempted to invade the playing area.
The FAF has announced it will contest these sanctions through official regulatory channels, describing the punishments as excessive. The federation maintains that the refereeing during the match was questionable and has filed a separate complaint regarding the officiating performance. However, these appeals are unlikely to affect the immediate implementation of the bans.
Importantly, these sanctions apply exclusively to CAF competitions and will not impact the eligibility of Zidane, Belghali, or any other Algerian player for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Algeria qualified for the tournament and will face Argentina in their opening group stage match, meaning Luca Zidane could potentially face Lionel Messi despite his CAF suspension.
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