AFCON 2025 organisers investigate clashes at Nigeria, Morocco games

Organisers pass of disciplinary enactment against players, squad officials and journalists if recovered blameworthy of wrongdoing.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has opened an probe and warned of imaginable disciplinary enactment for “unacceptable behaviour of players and officials” arsenic they clashed connected the transportation astatine the extremity of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinal betwixt Algeria and Nigeria.

“CAF has referred the matters to the disciplinary committee for probe and has called for due enactment to beryllium taken if the identified persons were to beryllium recovered blameworthy of immoderate wrongdoing,” said African football’s governing assemblage successful a connection connected Monday.

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Tensions spilled implicit connected the transportation astatine the extremity of Saturday’s crippled successful Marrakesh, which Nigeria won 2-0 acknowledgment to second-half goals by Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams.

Referee Issa Sy was shielded from irate Algeria squad unit and was escorted disconnected the field. Video clips showed Sy was inactive being pursued successful the mixed portion for media and broadcasters arsenic helium made his mode to his cabin.

Any disciplinary enactment could person an interaction connected the Super Eagles arsenic they hole for their semifinal showdown connected Wednesday against Morocco.

“CAF powerfully condemns immoderate inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, particularly those targeting the refereeing squad oregon lucifer organisers,” CAF said.

Video showed accredited media warring successful the mixed portion arsenic they waited for players to walk done for interviews aft the match.

Senegalese referee Issa Sy leaves the transportation aft the lucifer betwixt Algeria and Nigeria [Sebastien Bozon/AP]

Algeria’s federation besides confirmed it had filed a ailment with CAF implicit Sy’s performance.

“The Algerian Football Federation cannot disregard the refereeing show observed during the past match, which raised galore questions and caused sizeable confusion,” it said successful a statement.

“Certain decisions ‌have damaged the credibility of African refereeing and bash thing to heighten the worth of continental shot connected the planetary stage.”

CAF said it was besides investigating incidents successful Friday’s last-eight necktie betwixt the hosts and Cameroon.

Morocco won that crippled 2-0 successful Rabat and the Indomitable Lions were notably unhappy astatine the officiating, successful peculiar the refusal to grant them a punishment for a situation connected Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo successful the 2nd half.