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
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