Algerian national team player, Adel Boulbine, has asserted that Les Verts (The Greens) suffered blatant refereeing injustice during their quarter-final match against Nigeria in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In an interview, Boulbine stated that the Nigerian team did not need the assistance they received from the Senegalese referee, Issa Sy, considering their own strength as a team. He expressed his disappointment, emphasizing the perceived bias that impacted Algeria’s progress in the tournament.
“We suffered refereeing injustice, and Nigeria is a great team that doesn’t deserve the referee’s help,” Boulbine stated. “Thankfully, we have turned the page on the Africa Cup and will look to the future.”
Reflecting on his first experience in the continental competition, Boulbine added: “The experience of participating in the Africa Cup was very positive. I achieved my dream of playing with the first team, and I will continue to work to develop my capabilities in order to help my team and the national team in future matches.”
Looking ahead, the Al-Duhail SC star also spoke about the 2026 World Cup, saying: “The World Cup is a global tournament and different from the Africa Cup. We will try to enter it strongly, God willing, and make the Algerian people happy.” Boulbine’s comments highlight the team’s ambition and determination to succeed on the world stage, despite the setbacks experienced at AFCON.
