Boukhledah Reveals Reason Behind Controversial Celebration
Algeria's CR Belouizdad player, Chahrdine Boukhledah, revealed the motivation behind his celebration after scoring against Niger's Nigelec on Saturday, which sparked considerable controversy, especially given the current situation with coach Khaled Ben Yahia.
Boukhledah came on as a substitute in the match against Nigelec and delivered a standout performance, culminating in one of the five goals that secured "the Reds" a place in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League.
After scoring, Boukhledah celebrated in a unique way by placing his left finger on his head before tapping it from the right side. This led some to connect the gesture with his current situation and the choices of coach Ben Yahia.
Boukhledah clarified the meaning of his celebration, stating: "Regarding my celebration, I just wanted to show that I am mentally strong. There was nothing against the coach; I knew the celebration would attract attention."
The CR Belouizdad player continued: "I wanted to express that all that time on the bench was a tough experience, but thank God I was in a good mental state and I hope to continue... I also wish the best for the coach and the team."
Despite the challenges, Boukhledah emphasized his commitment to collective efforts in his media statements on Saturday from the "Ali Ammar" stadium in El Harrach, concluding: "I hope we can continue achieving victories together; we are a good group and brothers."
It is worth noting that Boukhledah, who joined "the Reds" in January 2026 from CR Wydad, started as a regular under coach Rulani Mokwena, but his situation changed with the departure of the South African and the return of Tunisian Khaled Ben Yahia.
