The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023) witnessed intense scenes during the match between Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), resulting in a 1-1 draw. The post-match fallout included a heated altercation between Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, and DR Congo’s defender, Chancel Mbemba, leading to a general brawl involving players and staff from both teams.
The heated exchange unfolded on the pitch, with tensions escalating and spilling into the corridors of the San Pedro Stadium. The incident stemmed from a tense interaction between Regragui and DR Congo defender Mbemba. Conflicting reports emerged, with some claiming Mbemba insulted Regragui, while others suggested that Regragui made racist remarks.
In the aftermatch, Coach Walid Regragui addressed the speculations during a post-match press conference, expressing regret over the altercation and the incident: “I have nothing to say; I have a lot of respect for Mbemba. It might be the adrenaline that made him respond like that, there’s no issue. I regret it because we didn’t portray a good image, neither us nor DR Congo.”
Witnesses in the stadium reported that Mbemba did not extend a greeting to Regragui after the match, further intensifying the situation. In a media statement at the mixed zone, Mbemba chose not to comment on the incident.
Several sources emphasized Regragui’s advocacy against racism, asserting that he would not engage in hateful or racist remarks.
Sportribune.com
