AFCON 2023: Popular influencer deported from Ivory Coast after calling host nation conditions 'prehistoric era'

During the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) hosted by Ivory Coast, an incident involving an Algerian fan and influencer, Sofia Benlemmane, garnered significant attention after Benlemmane was arrested and subsequently deported from Ivory Coast following a video she filmed and shared on social media.

In the video, Benlemmane unfavourably compared Ivory Coast to her home country, Algeria, using derogatory language to describe the host nation, as per reports from Mahgreb Sports.

The video depicted some impoverished areas of Ivory Coast, with Benlemmane commenting on the living conditions she observed.

She stated, "They live in misery here. I recorded a video yesterday at the bus station, and it's the worst, like the prehistoric era." Additionally, she expressed nationalistic sentiments, praising Algeria and suggesting that it should be geographically located between Portugal and Spain instead of being in Africa.

The Ivorian authorities responded by arresting Benlemmane at the stadium with the help of the Rapid Intervention Brigade. The influencer also live-streamed her arrest and was subsequently deported from Ivory Coast and banned from the country for life.

This action was part of the broader efforts by tournament organizers to clamp down on incidents of xenophobia and promote unity and diversity during the tournament, especially given some reported incidents of discrimination or tension related to nationality.

The incident sparked discussions about the role of sports events like AFCON in promoting tolerance and respect among diverse groups, highlighting the sensitive nature of national pride and the impact of social media in such international events​​​