Field Level Media
22 Jan 2026, 01:25 GMT+10
(Photo credit: REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)
Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane will not miss any World Cup games despite being handed a two-game ban by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday.
The ban was confirmed by the Algerian Football Federation, and stems from incidents after Algeria's 2-0 loss to Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal in Morocco on Jan. 10. Zidane, 27, will miss two games during the 2027 AFCON qualifiers that begin in September.
There had been concern that any ban might impact Zidane's availability for Algeria's opening World Cup matches against defending champion Argentina on June 16 and Jordan on June 22. Instead, the son of legendary France international Zinedine Zidane will be sidelined for key qualifying matches for the next continental campaign.
In addition to Luca Zidane's ban, defender Rafik Belkhili was handed a four-game ban. Two of those games have been suspended, with the remaining two to be served during AFCON qualifying. The Algerian federation said it has already begun the appeal process after being levied with fines totaling $100,000 for the behavior of some fans, players and team officials.
Five Algerian players were shown yellow cards, and several confronted Senegalese referee Issa Sy after the match. Zidane was also seen shoving Nigeria midfielder Raphael Onyedik, while Belghali followed Sy down the tunnel.
'Following these decisions, the Algerian Football Federation immediately initiated the appeals process stipulated by the regulations in force to contest these sanctions,' the federation's statement read. 'The FAF will follow developments in this case very closely and reaffirms its commitment to defending the interests of Algerian football, in strict compliance with regulatory and institutional channels.'
The CAF is also investigating the incidents that led to more than a 15-minute delay in the final when several Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest of a penalty kick called in favor of Morocco. Following the delay, Morocco missed the penalty kick and Senegal won the game with a goal in extra time.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of South America Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to South America Times.
More InformationMILAN, Italy: Valentino Garavani, the jet-set Italian designer whose high-glamour gowns were worn by royals, film stars, and fashion...
SANTIAGO, Chile: Raging wildfires in two regions in the south of Chile claimed 19 lives and forced at least 20,000 people to evacuate....
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The major proponent of the destruction of Gaza, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is to join U.S. President...
BARCELONA, Spain - Two trains have been derailed near Barcelona, jafter two trains collided in southern Spain, killing 42 people. ...
BRUSSELS, Belgium: European governments are weighing a sweeping trade response to pressure from Washington over Greenland, as tensions...
MADRID, Spain: Calling the allegations against him of sexual misconduct absolutely untrue, Grammy-winning singer Julio Iglesias has...
SANTIAGO, Chile: Raging wildfires in two regions in the south of Chile claimed 19 lives and forced at least 20,000 people to evacuate....
WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. aviation regulators have issued new safety warnings for airlines operating across parts of Latin America, cautioning...
(Photo credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images) Two-time World Series champion Yadier Molina is rejoining the St. Louis Cardinals as a special...
The contribution would come from the Russian assets frozen in the US Moscow is ready to contribute to US President Donald Trump's...
Melbourne [Australia], January 22 (ANI): India's Yuki Bhambri and his Swedish partner Andre Goransson stormed into the second round...
(Photo credit: REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh) Algerian goalkeeper Luca Zidane will not miss any World Cup games despite being handed...
