Luca Zidane, son of French football legend Zinedine Zidane, has come under heavy criticism following his involvement in a post-match altercation after Algeria’s 2–0 defeat to Nigeria in the AFCON quarter-finals.
The 27-year-old goalkeeper, who plays for Granada, was at the centre of chaotic scenes at full-time as emotions flared following Algeria’s elimination. Luca Zidane was seen confronting Nigeria midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru shortly after the final whistle, with what began as a heated exchange quickly escalating into a physical shove.
The situation worsened as players and officials from both teams rushed in to separate those involved. Nigeria players intervened to pull Dele-Bashiru away, while Luca Zidane was also involved in verbal exchanges with Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika as tensions threatened to spiral out of control.
The ugly scenes overshadowed Nigeria’s dominant performance, which saw the Super Eagles book a semi-final spot through goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams. Algeria, who had entered the knockout stage with confidence after a perfect group campaign and a narrow round-of-16 win over DR Congo, struggled to match Nigeria’s intensity and were effectively neutralised.
Reaction to the incident was swift on social media, with fans expressing shock and disappointment over the conduct of the Algerian goalkeeper. Some users drew comparisons to his father’s infamous on-pitch clash during the 2006 World Cup final, while others described the incident as embarrassing and unnecessary.
Luca Zidane only recently switched international allegiance to represent Algeria, having previously been eligible for France. He made his senior debut in October 2025 and was selected for the AFCON squad soon after, making this tournament his first major competition with the national team.
A product of the Real Madrid academy, Zidane was part of the squad that won the UEFA Champions League in the 2017–18 season under his father’s management, though he made just two senior appearances for the club. He later moved on permanently, building a steady career in Spain with spells at Rayo Vallecano, Eibar and Granada, amassing nearly 200 senior appearances.
While Luca Zidane has worked to carve out his own identity away from his father’s shadow, the post-match confrontation against Nigeria has drawn unwanted attention and criticism. The incident is likely to linger as a sour and controversial ending to his first AFCON campaign, raising questions about discipline and composure at the highest level of international football.
