The post-match between Algeria and Nigeria has not stopped talking. Sunday evening, L’Équipe reported that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) would open an investigation following the tense scenes which erupted following the Super Eagles’ qualification for the semi-finals (2-0) of the 2025 African Cup of Nations.
On the pitch, a scuffle broke out between the players. Luca Zidane grabbed Raphael Onyedika by the jersey. The Fennecs goalkeeper spoke strongly with the Nigerian players, while the staff tried as best they could to contain the most angry elements.
Incidents between journalists
Members of the Algerian management also demanded accountability from the referee of the match, Issa Sy. The Senegalese official’s decisions were contested, in particular his choice not to award a penalty to Vladimir Petkovic’s men at the start of the game, despite Junior Ajayi’s handball in the area.
The referee and his assistants had to be escorted by security agents to leave the field. A video captured by the independent media Daily24.ma in the corridors of the stadium also showed a chaotic scene in which the refereeing trio is heckled by several members of the Fennecs technical staff and by the right side Rafik Belghali, visibly very angry. CAF also indicated to L’Équipe that it would examine the incidents occurring among journalists, in particular between Moroccan and Algerian reporters.
