CAF slams heavy fines, bans on Algeria after AFCON Quarterfinal defeat to Nigeria

By Johnson Arua

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has handed down a series of heavy sanctions against Algeria following incidents that marred their 2–0 quarterfinal loss to Nigeria at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations.

CAF said the punitive measures were necessitated by what it described as unsporting and disrespectful conduct by Algerian players, team officials and supporters during and after the match, which ended the North Africans’ campaign at the tournament eventually won by Senegal.

In a statement, CAF announced a $25,000 fine on the Algerian Football Federation for inappropriate behaviour by players and officials, in addition to a $5,000 fine related to a general altercation. The federation was also fined $50,000 over the unruly conduct of supporters, including offensive gestures directed at match officials.

Further penalties included $10,000 for an attempted pitch invasion and $5,000 for the use of smoke devices in the stands.

CAF also imposed an additional $50,000 fine after Algerian fans displayed banknotes to suggest corruption within the football body—an act CAF described as “offensive and abusive” and damaging to the image of the game.

Beyond financial sanctions, individual players were also punished. Goalkeeper Luca Zidane received a two-match suspension for a physical confrontation with Nigeria’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, a ban that will rule him out of the opening fixtures of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.

Right-back Rafik Belghali was handed a four-match ban, with two games suspended, for threatening match officials.

Reacting to the disciplinary measures, the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) described CAF’s decision as unfair and confirmed it would file an appeal.

Meanwhile, CAF is also expected to review incidents involving Senegal during the AFCON final against Morocco on Sunday.

Senegal may face sanctions for walking off the pitch for 17 minutes in protest after a penalty was awarded against them.

Although the team eventually returned and went on to win the final, both CAF and world football governing body FIFA condemned the action, warning that it constituted a serious blot on the image of African football.