AFCON 2025: Algeria Players ‘Attack’ Referee After Losing to Super Eagles
- The Algerian national team players confronted the referee after their 2-0 loss to the Super Eagles of Nigeria
- A video has gone viral on social media showing the Desert Foxes stars chasing the referee down the tunnel
- Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams scored as Nigeria reached the last four of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
- A Nigerian football fan based in Morocco claims that the Algerians involved in the disturbance should expect serious implications
The Algerian national team players risk CAF sanction after confronting the match official after their 2-0 loss to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Marrakech.
Super Eagles defeated the Desert Foxes and dumped them out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams.
Source: Getty Images
As noted by NFF, Nigeria was the better side, limiting the North Africans to zero shots on target, while attacking Luca Zidane with five, two of which were scored.
Algeria players confront referee at AFCON 2025
As seen in a video going viral on X, Algerian players chased the Senegalese match official Issa Sy down the tunnel after the match, and had to be restrained.
The Algerians felt cheated after Sy waved off a penalty appeal in the first half after the ball bounced off Semi Ajayi’s thigh before touching his arm.
Fans expressed disappointment in the incident, claiming Algeria had bigger problems than officiating in a match where they did not have a shot on target.
@simplymsnobody wrote:
“U have zero shot on target Shouldn’t u genuinely be disappointed in that hectic performance ffs? This is so disgraceful from Algeria.”
@iamokamas1 wrote:
“I’m expecting CAF to take decisive action against the Algerian national team. Possibly ban them from participating in the next AFCON for bad conduct. The referee had an excellent game and was fair with his officiating today. They should rather be worried about their own poor performance and also for the fact that they came up against a better opponent.”
@joseph_inyang wrote:
"Why attack the referee? He was solid throughout the match. Algeria wanted to play their normal style of play which is always diving and asking the ref for cards. That didn't work out. Why then attack the ref who has been spot on?”
According to Morocco Intel, Moroccan police arrested two videographers from Algerian TV stations, as well as journalists and fans, after a fight broke out in the mixed zone.
Source: Getty Images
Petkovic reacts to Algeria’s loss
Algeria national team head coach Vladimir Petkovic admitted that Nigeria was the better side and deserved to win the match to qualify for the next round.
“I congratulate the Nigerian team, who deserved to win the match. The opponent played better than us. We couldn’t get into the game properly; we had to stay focused,” he told CAF Online.
“Our players are disappointed and devastated after the match. They performed well in this tournament. Now the competition is over, and another tournament is coming. We must keep our heads high after this exit.”
Olayemi Busari, a Nigerian football fan based in Morocco, claims that it is not going to end well for the Algerian fans involved in the attempted pitch invasion and incident in the mixed zone.
"You should know better as an Algerian that Morocco is not where you engage in a violent act, it will never end well because of the hostility between the two countries," he told Legit.ng.
"Moroccans are happy Algeria is eliminated and about their violent acts, they have used strong words like hooligans, thugs and co to describe their neighbours. Those involved in such acts will not find it easy."
CAF applauds Akor Adams
Legit.ng reported that CAF applauded Akor Adams after the Super Eagles striker’s celebration after scoring Nigeria's second goal against Algeria.
Adams imitated DR Congo superfan Mboladinga 'Lumumba', who has been paying homage to former prime minister Patrice Lumumba all tournament.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
