Algeria's goalkeeper, Luca Zidane, has finally addressed the public following a dramatic and disappointing exit for his team from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The Desert Foxes were eliminated by the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a tense quarterfinal match that ended 2-0, culminating in a full-time brawl involving players from both sides.
Quarterfinal Heartbreak and On-Field Confrontation
The crucial match took place on Saturday, January 10, 2026, in Marrakesh, Morocco. Nigeria secured their semi-final berth with second-half goals from star strikers Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams. For Luca Zidane, the son of French legend Zinedine Zidane, the game was a personal setback. After maintaining three consecutive clean sheets earlier in the tournament against Sudan, Burkina Faso, and DR Congo, he conceded twice to the Nigerian attack.
The Granada shot-stopper was notably humbled in the 57th minute when Akor Adams skillfully dribbled past him to score. The frustration boiled over after the final whistle, leading to a physical confrontation on the pitch. Reports from talkSPORT indicate that Zidane clashed with Nigeria midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru as emotions ran high following Algeria's elimination. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is now reviewing the incident, and Zidane could potentially face disciplinary action for his involvement in the post-match melee.
Zidane's Emotional Statement on Instagram
In the aftermath, the 27-year-old goalkeeper took to Instagram to share his feelings with fans. In a heartfelt post, Zidane expressed the immense disappointment of the loss but emphasized a stronger sense of pride for representing Algeria, the homeland of his grandparents.
He wrote: "The CAN stops here. The disappointment is huge, but deep down inside me, there's something more stronger, of pride. The pride of experiencing my first Africa Cup of Nations. The pride of wearing this shirt, the one from Algeria... This elimination hurts, but it doesn't stop us. Algeria is still rising. Thank you to all our people for the strength you have given us. You have been our most beautiful weapon during this CAN."
The statement highlights his commitment to the national team as they now turn their focus towards qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Fan Reactions and Fallout
The goalkeeper's message sparked a wave of reactions from supporters online. While many Algerian fans offered words of encouragement and pride, others provided critical analysis of his performance in the high-stakes match. One user pointed out that the quarterfinal highlighted certain gaps in his gameplay at the demanding level of the AFCON tournament.
In related news, Algerian defender Rafik Belghali has separately addressed another incident from the match, denying allegations that he attempted to attack the Senegalese referee, Issa Sy. Belghali clarified that he merely approached the official for a handshake, which was refused on the field.
As the dust settles on a fiery encounter, the Super Eagles of Nigeria advance in the tournament, while Luca Zidane and the Algerian squad are left to reflect on what might have been and rebuild for future challenges.
