The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially launched a disciplinary investigation into the violent and unsavoury incidents that marred the end of the thrilling Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash between Nigeria and Algeria. The match, which saw the Super Eagles triumph 2-0, was overshadowed by significant post-match disorder involving players, officials, and journalists.
Post-Match Chaos Mars Super Eagles Victory
Nigeria secured their semi-final berth with a solid 2-0 win against Algeria at the Grande Stade de Marrakech on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The goals came from Victor Osimhen, who broke the deadlock in the 47th minute, and Akor Adams, who sealed the victory ten minutes later from an Osimhen assist. However, the celebration of Nigeria's progression was quickly tarnished.
Immediately after the final whistle, a major confrontation erupted on the pitch between players from both sides. The situation escalated notably with Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane reportedly going on a rampage. Further tension spilled into the tunnel, where Algerian players aggressively confronted the match referee, Senegalese official Issa Sy, to protest his decisions during the game.
CAF Acts on Reports and Video Evidence
The governing body for African football confirmed in a public statement that it has received a full report along with video evidence detailing the disturbing events. CAF has now formally referred the matter to its Disciplinary Board for a thorough investigation. The statement strongly condemned all inappropriate behaviour, particularly actions targeting match officials and organisers.
"CAF has referred the matters to the Disciplinary Board for investigation and has called for appropriate action to be taken if the identified persons were to be found guilty of any wrongdoing," the statement read. It further warned that "appropriate actions will be sought against anyone whose behaviour is not consistent with professional conduct at CAF events."
The investigation will also look into similar incidents of grievance concerning officiating from the other quarter-final match between Morocco and Cameroon, indicating a wider crackdown on post-match conduct.
Journalists Involved and Semi-Final Focus
The chaos was not confined to the pitch and tunnel. In the mixed zone, where players interact with the media, Algerian journalists created a significant disturbance. This led Moroccan police to arrest two videographers and question several others. Meanwhile, the Algerian Football Federation had already submitted an official petition to CAF, complaining about Referee Issa Sy's decision to wave away a first-half penalty appeal and his overall attitude.
Despite the controversy, the tournament marches on. The Super Eagles must now regroup and focus on their crucial semi-final showdown against the host nation, Morocco. That match is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 8 PM in Rabat. The other semi-final will see Egypt face Senegal in Tangier. The ultimate winner will be crowned at the Complexe Sportif de Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat on Sunday, January 18.
