Zinedine Zidane’s Son Involved in Post-Match Brawl as Algeria Players Attack Referee After AFCON Loss to Nigeria

Tensions flared following Nigeria's 2-0 quarter-final victory over Algeria in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, culminating in a chaotic on-pitch confrontation involving Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane.

The Super Eagles secured their spot in the semi-finals with second-half goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams in Marrakech. Nigeria controlled the match, with Osimhen breaking the deadlock with a powerful header just after the interval before setting up Adams to seal the win and end Algeria's campaign.

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As the final whistle sounded, Algerian players swarmed the match officials to protest several decisions, most notably a contentious handball appeal in the first half that was waved away. The situation grew so intense that security personnel had to escort the referee from the pitch for his safety.

The protests quickly escalated into physical altercations. An incensed Luca Zidane, son of French football icon Zinedine Zidane, was seen grabbing a Nigerian player, believed to be either Raphael Onyedika or Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Teammates and officials rushed to intervene and pulled the players apart before the scuffle could worsen.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper, who had only recently switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria, had been in fine form throughout the tournament. He had kept three clean sheets before conceding against the Super Eagles. Unverified reports also suggest the confrontations continued in the stadium tunnels, with some claims that the referee was attacked by Algerian players.

The primary source of Algeria's frustration was a first-half incident where Nigerian defender Junior Ajayi appeared to handle the ball inside the penalty box. The referee's decision not to award a penalty became the focal point for the post-match chaos.

The defeat marks a disappointing end for Algeria, their fifth quarterfinal exit in their last seven AFCON knockout stage appearances. Nigeria, meanwhile, advances to face Morocco in the semi-finals as they continue their quest for a first continental title since 2013.

In the other side of the bracket, Egypt defeated Ivory Coast 3-2 to book a highly anticipated semi-final showdown with Senegal. The match will pit two of Africa's biggest stars, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané, against each other, rekindling their famous rivalry from their time as Liverpool teammates and in previous international finals.

While order was eventually restored after the dramatic conclusion to the Nigeria-Algeria match, the heated scenes underscored the immense passion and high stakes of Africa's premier football tournament.