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Football Insider

The Unfortunate Brawl: Zinedine Zidane's Son in the Spotlight at AFCON

Discover the details of the chaotic brawl involving Zinedine Zidane's son Luca following Algeria's defeat in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals. Read on to learn about the tense confrontation and the aftermath that unfolded post-match.

The Unfortunate Brawl: Zinedine Zidane's Son in the Spotlight at AFCON

Zinedine Zidane's son Luca was involved in a brawl at full-time after his Algeria side were defeated in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals on Saturday. The 27-year-old Granada goalkeeper clashed with Nigeria ace Fisayo Dele-Bashiru following a 2-0 victory for the Super Eagles, who will meet hosts Morocco in the last four. But the incident after the full-time whistle saw a sour end to proceedings as Zidane's side were eliminated.Zinedine’s son Luca was right at the centre of Algeria’s brawl, as a heated verbal exchange with Lazio midfielder Dele-Bashiru quickly came to a head in a shoving match which saw players and staff from both sides get involved in the physical altercation. Zidane was also seen arguing with Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika as Nigeria players came to drag Dele-Bashiru from the scene.Algeria came through the AFCON group stage with an 100% record in matches against Sudan, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea, before DR Congo were defeated 1-0 in the round of 16. But an encounter with Nigeria would prove a step too far as the Super Eagles won 2-0 thanks to goals Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams, setting up a semi-final with favourites Morocco in the process.Fans responded in shock to the chaos on social media after the match quickly descended into disarray following the final whistle.As relayed by The Sun, one said: “Damn, what a disgrace.”Another claimed: “Too much frustration in this match, they let themselves get overwhelmed by their emotions.”“Luca Zidane taking after his father there,” said another fan.A fourth added: “Didn’t like that fight at the end there.”Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingZidane switched nationality earlier this year, from the France of his legend father Zinedine to become an Algeria international. Making his debut in October 2025, French-born Luca was named in their squad for AFCON shortly after.The former Real Madrid youngster won the Champions League as part of the squad under his father in the 2017/18 season, though he only ever made two first-team appearances for Los Blancos before departing permanently for Rayo Vallecano in 2020. The 27-year-old has spent the majority of his career in the Spanish Segunda División for Rayo, Eibar and current employers Granada, making 194 career appearances between the sticks in all.While he has developed a respectable career for himself outside of the shadow of his father, Luca will no doubt feel let down by the incident at full-time as frustrations boiled over following his nation’s elimination from AFCON, which will see the shot-stopper return to his club side in Spain.

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A Clash of Emotions and Actions

Zinedine Zidane's son Luca found himself at the center of a heated altercation after Algeria faced a 2-0 defeat against Nigeria in the AFCON quarter-finals. Tensions ran high as the match concluded, with a verbal exchange quickly escalating into a physical confrontation involving players and staff from both teams. Luca's involvement in the brawl marked a sour conclusion to Algeria's AFCON journey.

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The Path to Quarter-Final Defeat

Algeria showcased a strong performance in the AFCON group stage, securing victories against Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Equatorial Guinea before defeating DR Congo in the round of 16. However, their journey came to an end against Nigeria, who emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline courtesy of goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams.

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Social Media Reacts to the Chaos

Fans took to social media to express shock and disappointment at the post-match brawl that marred the Algeria vs. Nigeria encounter. Observers noted the emotional nature of the incident, with some drawing parallels to Luca Zidane's father, legendary footballer Zinedine Zidane. The altercation stirred mixed reactions among viewers and emphasized the intensity of the competition.

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Luca Zidane: From Champions League Glory to AFCON Drama

Luca Zidane, who previously won the Champions League as part of Real Madrid's squad during the 2017/18 season, has carved out a career for himself in Spanish football with clubs like Rayo Vallecano, Eibar, and Granada. Despite standing out on his own, Luca's recent involvement in the AFCON brawl underscores the challenges and pressures faced by players in the competitive world of football.

Published on Jan 11, 2026