AFCON: Ivory Coast deports Algerian fan for calling country ‘poor’

The authorities in Ivory Coast have deported an Algerian supporter who was arrested for filming a video in which she used derogatory language towards the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations host nation.

According to Actu Foot, Sofia Benlemmane was arrested, deported, and banned from the Ivory Coast for life, following the widespread video that depicted the country in a negative light.

“Sofia Benlemmane, an Algerian supporter, was arrested yesterday at the stadium by the Rapid Intervention Brigade following comments made against Ivory Coast,” Maghreb sports platform reported.

The incident was said to have involved Benlemmane who had travelled to Ivory Coast with other fans to watch the continental tournament.

She had uploaded a clip on social media that compared Ivory Coast unfavourably with her country Algeria while sousing derogatory language towards the West African nation.

“They live in misery here. I recorded a video yesterday at the bus station, and it’s the worst, like the prehistoric era. If I had some powers, I would have brought Algerians here to witness this

“What a difference with Algeria! Long live Algeria. I thank God for giving me a country like Algeria. Normally, Algeria is not supposed to be in Africa. It was supposed to be situated between Portugal and Spain,” ” she said in the video.

With tournament organisers keen on promoting amongst fans, her arrest was seen as one of the ways to clamp down on incidents of xenophobia with some incidents of discrimination or tension related to nationality having been reported at the tournament.

Meanwhile, the Supper eagles of Nigeria will today (Thursday) battle the Elephants of Ivory Coast in their second game at the ongoing AFCON.

Both recorded contrasting results in their respective openers. While the Nigerians laboured to a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea, the hosts had no problems dispatching Guinea Bissau 2-0.

The game starts at 6:00 pm at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan.