The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has opened an investigation into the incidents that followed Algeria’s quarter-final defeat to Nigeria (2–0) on Friday at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Footage widely shared on social media shows several Algerian players confronting Senegalese referee Issa Sy immediately after the final whistle, before tensions spilled into the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms.
CAF confirmed to the French daily L’Équipe that the behavior observed after the match breached competition regulations. The inquiry will also examine reported altercations between Algerian and Moroccan journalists in the mixed zone, as well as attempts by some Algerian supporters to enter the pitch.
Also Read: Nigeria beats Algeria, makes AFCON semi-final
Meanwhile, the Algerian Football Federation announced it had lodged formal complaints with both CAF and FIFA, accusing the referee of favoring Nigeria. Algerian television channels devoted extensive post-match coverage to the officiating, with some commentators suggesting that Algeria had been prevented from reaching the semi-finals to clear the path for Morocco to win the tournament.
These claims stand in sharp contrast to the match statistics, which point to Nigeria’s clear superiority. Algeria registered just three shots over the course of the game, the first arriving only in the 80th minute, and none on target. Nigeria, by comparison, controlled 68 percent of possession.
Notably, Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez distanced himself from the controversy, refusing to place the blame on the referee. “The referee wasn’t perfect, but that’s not why we lost”, he said. “We talk a lot about refereeing in football, but the result is decided by what happens on the pitch.”
MSN
