CAF Slams Algeria with Heavy $100k Fine and Player Bans Following Heated Nigeria Clash

The fallout from Nigeria’s victory over Algeria has taken a messy turn as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) handed down a massive $100,000 fine and multi-game suspensions to the North African side. The disciplinary hammer came down after a quarter-final match that spiraled out of control both on the pitch and in the stands.

According to official reports released this Wednesday, the match which saw the Super Eagles cruise to a 2–0 win ended in scenes that CAF described as “unacceptable.” Goalkeeper Luca Zidane has been banned for two games after he was caught in a physical altercation with Nigerian midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. His teammate, Rafik Belghali, received an even tougher four-match ban for what officials called “relentless” and aggressive behavior toward the referee that continued even into the locker rooms.

It wasn’t just the players who got into trouble. Algerian fans cost their federation $50,000 alone for a controversial stunt where they waved bundles of cash at the referees, suggesting the match had been “fixed.” This gesture, combined with the use of smoke bombs and fans trying to jump security fences, forced CAF to take a hard line on the federation’s wallet.

In a breakdown of the “financial carnage,” the Algerian FA was also fined for having five players booked during the game and for the general “inappropriate behavior” of team officials after the final whistle.

While the bans will take effect during the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, the Algerian Football Federation isn’t going down without a fight. They have already launched an appeal to have the fines reduced and the player suspensions shortened, arguing that the officiating during the game was the real problem. For now, however, the North Africans are left with a very expensive bill and a bruised reputation as Nigeria celebrates its progress in the tournament.