CAF’s recent disciplinary storm against Algeria continues to fuel anger and anxiety, just months before the 2026 World Cup qualifiers intensify.
The sanctions, handed down after controversial scenes at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, triggered outrage among Algerian fans, media and officials, who view several penalties as harsh and unfair.
Commentator Hafid Derradji went as far as describing the decisions with “anger, astonishment and sarcasm,” reflecting the mood in the country.
CAF’s disciplinary committee imposed suspensions on goalkeeper Luca Zidane (two matches) and defender Rafik Belghali (four matches, with two suspended), alongside a heavy package of financial fines totalling around 100,000 dollars for misconduct, crowd trouble, flares, projectiles and security breaches.
These punishments will apply in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, complicating Algeria’s path as key players miss crucial games.
The Algerian FA has already launched an official appeal and insists it will defend national football through all legal channels at CAF and CAS.
French outlet Onze Mondial reports that extending these sanctions to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers is unlikely, even though CAF could theoretically ask FIFA to do so.
The report suggests a similar international extension scenario may be more realistic for Senegal after incidents in the 2025 AFCON final, while CAF now prefers to calm tensions, as Algerian FA president Waleed Sadi presses ahead with a legal showdown to embarrass the confederation regionally and globally.
