The Algerian national team has been eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 in the quarter-finals, following a defeat against Nigeria yesterday. The match was marred by controversial refereeing decisions, sparking anger and frustration among the players and widespread discontent among Algerian football fans.
The end of the match witnessed heightened tension and anger among the national team players, particularly directed towards the Senegalese referee Issa Sy and the Gabonese VAR official Pierre Atcho. Several players, including Rayan Aït-Nouri and Rafik Belghali, reportedly pursued the officiating team as they headed to the locker rooms, protesting the management of the game. Members of the Algerian delegation, including assistant coach Davide Morandi, intervened to calm the players and prevent the situation from escalating.
Observers widely agree that the referee denied the national team a clear penalty in the 13th minute, following a handball inside the penalty area by Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi after a pass from Farès Chaïbi, without any intervention from VAR. The referee also stirred controversy by issuing early yellow cards, notably a caution to Ramiz Zerrouki after just 12 minutes, followed by another to Mohamed El Amine Amoura, further increasing the players’ tension and affecting the rhythm of the ‘Fennecs’ performance.
Mahrez: “Sad After Elimination, Apologies to the Fans”
National team captain Riyad Mahrez expressed his deep regret after the team’s exit from the tournament, emphasizing that the elimination was painful and difficult to accept, especially given the high expectations surrounding the ‘Fennecs’ participation in this edition of the continental competition.
“I was hoping to win a second Africa Cup of Nations title after the 2019 achievement,” Mahrez told the media. “Elimination in the quarter-finals is very painful, and winning the title is not easy, especially given the intense competition in African football.”
The ‘Fennecs’ star added that this new generation must overcome such difficult stages to gain experience and build a strong team for the future, noting that the team left the competition with their heads held high despite the loss. Regarding the refereeing, Mahrez merely alluded to the issue without going into details, saying: “I don’t want to talk much about the referee, but he didn’t award a clear penalty, and he issued yellow cards quickly. This is not an excuse, but everyone saw what happened.” The captain concluded his statements with a message of apology to the fans.
