Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane has been suspended for two matches following disciplinary action taken by the Confederation of African Football after incidents during the Africa Cup of Nations quarter final against Nigeria.
The ruling, confirmed by the Algerian Football Federation, means Zidane will miss two fixtures during the qualifiers for the 2027 AFCON, dealing an early blow to Algeria’s plans for the next continental campaign.
The decision was delivered by CAF’s Disciplinary Committee after reviewing events from the January 10, 2026 encounter, a match that ended Algeria’s AFCON journey and later drew intense scrutiny.
Zidane, who had been a key figure for the national side during the tournament, is now set to serve his suspension in competitive qualifiers rather than in friendly matches.
The Disciplinary Committee also handed down punishment to defender Rafik Belkhili, who received a four match ban. Two of those games have been suspended, with the remaining two also scheduled to be served during the 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign. The ruling places further pressure on Algeria’s defensive options as they prepare for a new cycle.
Beyond individual players, CAF cited issues of team discipline during the match itself. Algeria were fined $5,000 after five players were shown yellow cards, a breach of Article 130(a) of the CAF Disciplinary Code.
CAF also took a firm stance on events that followed the final whistle. The Algerian Football Federation was fined $25,000 for the inappropriate behavior of some players and officials, which the committee ruled had harmed the image of the game and violated Articles 82 and 83 of the Disciplinary Code.
Supporter behavior was another major focus of the sanctions. CAF imposed a series of fines linked to crowd conduct, including $5,000 for the use of pyrotechnics, $5,000 for throwing projectiles, and $10,000 for failures in security procedures after attempts by some fans to breach restricted areas.
The heaviest financial penalty came after CAF found that sections of the Algerian support had made offensive and insulting gestures toward match officials by displaying banknotes. That incident resulted in a $50,000 fine, underlining the seriousness with which CAF viewed the matter.
The Algerian Football Federation has confirmed it has already begun the appeal process, stating it will continue to follow the case closely in defense of Algerian football while respecting all regulatory and institutional procedures.
