AFCON 2025 Fallout: Algeria Should Have Walked Out Against Nigeria – Benlamri

AFCON 2025 Fallout: Algeria Should Have Walked Out Against Nigeria – Benjamri

Sampson Adedeji

The controversy surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continues to generate strong reactions, days after the dramatic final between Senegal and Morocco.

Former Algerian international and 2019 AFCON winner, Djamel Benlamri, has now weighed in, drawing parallels with Algeria’s experience earlier in the tournament.

Reflecting on the tense scenes in the final, Benlamri focused on Senegal’s decision to briefly leave the pitch in protest over controversial refereeing decisions late in the game.

According to him, such collective action highlighted the level of frustration teams feel when they believe they have been unfairly treated.

Benlamri linked the incident to Algeria’s quarter-final exit against Nigeria at AFCON 2025, a match also marred by disputed officiating.

The former defender recalled a penalty appeal early in the game that many Algerian supporters felt was clear but was waved away by referee Issa Sy.

Speaking on the issue, Benlamri was direct in his assessment. “Algeria should have shown the same kind of reaction against Nigeria to make a strong statement".

 " It wasn’t necessarily about abandoning the match, but about clearly expressing our protest,” he said.

His comments, however, underline growing concerns within African football.

The fear is that the events of the final may set a dangerous precedent, where teams who feel aggrieved by officiating decisions resort to walkouts, deliberate delays, or confrontations in an attempt to pressure referees.