The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has delivered a firm response to the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) following their official protest concerning refereeing in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal exit.
Algeria's Quarterfinal Grievance
The Desert Foxes were defeated 2-0 by Nigeria's Super Eagles on Saturday, January 10, in Marrakesh, Morocco. Goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams sealed the win for Nigeria, sending them to the semifinals. However, the match's aftermath was dominated by controversy.
Algeria, the two-time AFCON champions, lodged a formal petition with both CAF and FIFA. Their primary complaint centered on Senegalese referee Issa Sy. The FAF accused him of denying them a clear penalty in the first half when the score was 0-0, after an incident involving Nigeria's Semi Ajayi and the ball inside the penalty area.
The federation also cited an "unprofessional attitude" from the official, alleging he refused to shake hands with Algerian players after the final whistle. Heated confrontations involving players, officials, and the referee team in the tunnel, plus attempts by fans to enter the pitch, were attributed by Algeria to frustration over these refereeing decisions.
CAF's Bold Decision and Investigation
In a significant move, CAF announced the list of 16 match officials retained to oversee the remaining semifinal, third-place, and final matches of the tournament. Despite the vehement protest from Algeria, Issa Sy's name was included on the list released on Monday, January 12.
The governing body confirmed that an investigation into the events of the quarterfinal is now underway. A statement from CAF Media indicated that official match reports and video footage have been gathered. The matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for further assessment and potential sanctions.
This decision to retain Sy while simultaneously launching a probe sends a clear message: the tournament's schedule will proceed as planned, but formal complaints will be examined through the proper channels.
The Road Ahead for AFCON 2025
The retained referees, including Sy, are set to officiate the crucial final stages of AFCON 2025, culminating in the final on Sunday, January 18. The list features officials from across the continent, such as Mustapha Ghorbal of Algeria, Jean Ndala of DR Congo, and Peter Waweru of Kenya.
For the Nigerian side, the focus remains on their semifinal clash, having moved past the controversy. For Algerian football, the attention turns to the outcome of CAF's disciplinary process, as they seek accountability for what they deem poor officiating that ended their tournament dream.
