CAF slaps Algeria with $100,000 fine, suspends players over clash with Nigeria at AFCON

Thursday, January 22, 2026 - The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has fined the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) with a $100,000 fine and handed out multiple player suspensions following disciplinary breaches during and after their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 quarter-final loss to Nigeria

The sanctions stem from chaotic scenes that unfolded at the end of the match on January 10, 2026, in Marrakech, Morocco, where Nigeria defeated Algeria 2 - 0 to progress to the semi-finals.

After the match, several Algerian players and officials confronted match officials after the final whistle, behaviour described by the CAF Disciplinary Board as bringing the game into disrepute.

The on-field brawl also extended to some Nigerian players, as they were also attacked.

In its ruling on the matter, the CAF disciplinary committee fined Algeria $25,000 for the actions of the country’s players and officials at the end of the match, which brought discredit upon the match.

The Algerian FA was handed an additional $15,000 fine for offences including players receiving five yellow cards during the match, the use of smoke bombs by its supporters, and the throwing of objects by its supporters.

The federation also received an additional $60,000 fine for offensive and abusive gestures displaying banknotes committed by its supporters against the match referees and for failing to comply with security measures due to behaviour that attempted to force the security barriers.

CAF also suspended Desert Foxes’ Rafik Belghali and Luca Zidane for four and two games respectively over their role in the post-match scuffle. 

The Algerian FA said it has initiated an appeal process to overturn the sanctions. 

“The Algerian Football Federation informs the public of the decision rendered by the Disciplinary Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the incidents that occurred during the Algeria-Nigeria match, played on January 10, 2026, for the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.”

“Following these decisions, the Algerian FA immediately initiated the appeals process stipulated by the regulations in order to contest these sanctions. The FA will follow developments in this case very closely,” the federation said.