The Desert Foxes finished at the bottom of Group D after their defeat, which angered their proud football fans. Some fans attempted to attack the team members at their hotel in Bouake. The team, which boasted stars like Riyaad Mahrez, Houssem Aouar, Nabil Bentaleb, Islam Slimani, and Rayan Aït-Nouri, only managed to collect two points in their group, securing a 1-1 draw against group winners Angola and a 2-2 draw against Burkina Faso. The frustration reached a point where vigilante supporters attacked the team at the hotel.
AFCON-winning head coach Djamel Belmadi and the president of the Algeria Football Federation, Walid Sadi, faced backlash from the fans, who were apprehended by Ivorian security personnel. This incident occurred on January 24, 2024.
The defeat to Mauritania could possibly mark the end of Djamel Belmadi’s time with the Desert Foxes. However, he will always be considered a legend in Algeria for having masterminded their 2019 AFCON success. The 47-year-old coach was escorted by stadium security as he made his way to the stands to bravely try to apologize to the livid Algerian supporters. In an interaction with the fans, they urged him to stay, emphasizing that his departure would be catastrophic. Belmadi responded by expressing his apologies and stating that the team had done everything possible.