The Confederation of African Football CAF has imposed heavy sanctions on the Algerian Football Federation following disciplinary breaches during and after Algeria’s quarter-final defeat to Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
CAF confirmed that the Algerian FA has been fined a total of one hundred thousand dollars after chaotic scenes erupted at the end of the highly charged encounter played on January 10, 2026, in Marrakech, Morocco. Nigeria secured a two nil victory to progress to the semi-finals, but celebrations were overshadowed by disorder after the final whistle.
According to CAF’s Disciplinary Board, several Algerian players and officials confronted match officials immediately after the match. The situation escalated quickly, with reports indicating that some Nigerian players were also attacked during the post-match altercation. CAF described the conduct as behaviour that brought the game into disrepute.
In its ruling, CAF fined Algeria twenty five thousand dollars for the actions of its players and officials at the end of the match. An additional fifteen thousand dollar fine was imposed for multiple offences during the game, including players receiving five yellow cards, the use of smoke bombs by supporters, and the throwing of objects onto the field of play.
The Algerian FA was further fined sixty thousand dollars for offensive and abusive gestures by supporters, including the display of banknotes directed at match referees. CAF also cited failures in security compliance, particularly attempts by supporters to breach security barriers at the stadium.
CAF went beyond financial penalties by suspending two Algerian players involved in the post-match scuffle. Defender Rafik Belghali was handed a four-match ban, while goalkeeper Luca Zidane received a two-match suspension for his role in the incident.
In response, the Algerian Football Federation confirmed that it has launched an appeal against the sanctions. In an official statement, the federation said,
“The Algerian Football Federation informs the public of the decision rendered by the Disciplinary Committee of the Confederation of African Football regarding the incidents that occurred during the Algeria Nigeria match played on January 10, 2026, in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.”
The statement continued,
“Following these decisions, the Algerian FA immediately initiated the appeals process stipulated by the regulations in order to contest these sanctions. The federation will follow developments in this case very closely.”
CAF has maintained that the measures are necessary to uphold discipline, protect match officials, and preserve the integrity of African football, as AFCON 2025 continues to draw intense attention across the continent.
