Algeria: After Two Years of Waiting, Verdict Stuns Zetchi

The Sidi M’Hamed court in Algiers sentenced former Algerian Football Federation (FAF) president Kheireddine Zetchi to eight years in prison. His successor Charafeddine Amara also received an eight-year sentence, while Djahid Zefizef was sentenced to six years and former administrative director Abdelghani Nekkache to three years. The case concerns the FAF’s finances from 2017 to 2023 and allegations of abuse of office, misuse of public funds, and irregular contracts. Zetchi had been held in pretrial detention since November 2024, and his lawyers had sought his acquittal.