Controversy surrounded Algeria’s exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following their 2–0 quarter-final defeat to Nigeria, after comments made by beIN Sports commentator Hafid Derradji triggered widespread debate among fans and analysts, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Derradji, who handled commentary duties during the encounter, was accused by many viewers of showing bias in his analysis of the match. The Algerian commentator suggested that the Desert Foxes’ lack of cohesion was a result of fatigue from their previous outing against Congo, a claim that drew criticism given Nigeria’s own demanding schedule at the tournament.
The controversy deepened when Derradji appeared to imply that Nigeria’s head coach showed an unusual level of confidence ahead of kickoff, a remark some interpreted as hinting at possible pre-arranged outcomes. These comments quickly spread across social media, fueling speculation and outrage, particularly among Algerian supporters.
Algeria’s frustration was also evident on and off the pitch following the defeat. During and after the quarter-final clash on Saturday, members of the Algerian squad and delegation confronted match officials, accusing them of unfair refereeing decisions. Several calls, including yellow cards issued to Algerian players, were met with angry reactions from both the players and fans inside the stadium.
Supporters repeatedly voiced their displeasure through loud protests and gestures, insisting that the officiating decisions were biased against their team. Despite Algeria’s struggles with consistency and concentration during the match, similar complaints were echoed by players in post-match reactions.
Tensions escalated further as confrontations broke out between players and match officials, leading to multiple bookings. The charged atmosphere extended beyond the pitch into the media zone, where verbal exchanges reportedly occurred between Algerian and Moroccan journalists, highlighting the heightened emotions surrounding the encounter.
In the end, Nigeria maintained its composure and secured a deserved 2–0 victory, booking a semi-final showdown against host nation Morocco. The crucial last-four clash is scheduled for Wednesday at 9 p.m. at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.