The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) is preparing to escalate its dispute with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), with a possible appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) looming following disciplinary sanctions imposed after Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal defeat to Nigeria.
Senior sources indicate that the Algerian FA is determined to exhaust all legal options should CAF uphold the penalties linked to the controversial 2025 AFCON encounter, which was marked by incidents both on and off the pitch.
CAF’s Disciplinary Committee handed down fines totalling $100,000 and imposed sporting sanctions on key Algerian players. Goalkeeper Luca Zidane received a two-match suspension in the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, while right-back Rafik Belghali was banned for four matches, with two of those games suspended.
The Algerian FA has expressed strong dissatisfaction with what it describes as disproportionate and damaging sanctions, arguing that the punishments go beyond acceptable disciplinary measures and negatively impact the national team’s competitive prospects.
Officials have formally lodged an appeal within CAF’s disciplinary framework, challenging both the financial penalties and the player suspensions.
However, sources close to the federation say that if CAF fails to revise its decision, Algeria is ready to take the matter to CAS in Switzerland ; a move that would significantly escalate the dispute and place the governing body’s disciplinary process under legal scrutiny.
