It was a surreal scene witnessed by the supporters present at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro (Ivory Coast). After the draw between Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo (1-1) counting for the second day of the group stage of the CAN, the players of the two teams engaged in a big scuffle in the central circle at the following the meeting, before running back into the corridors of the stadium where tension was also breaking out.
After a fiercely contested meeting (4 yellows and 34 fouls), it was the Morocco coach Walid Regragui who launched the hostilities by provoking the defender of the Olympique de Marseille and captain of the DRC Chancel Mbemba, before the cameras of BeIN Sports stops broadcasting the match.
Morocco not yet qualified
According to the journalists present on site and the images published on social networks, this small altercation between the two men spread to all the actors and members of the staff of the two teams. The impressive scuffle, however, would not have given rise to blows on the stadium pitch at least. Images of the corridors of the Ivorian compound have not yet been leaked.
???? Huge fight on the pitch then in the hallway between the two teams.
Completely surreal scene where the two teams run towards the corridor. #CAN2023 pic.twitter.com/xulu0ljhNG
— Hanif Ben Berkane (@HanifBerkane) January 21, 2024
“I have nothing to say about that,” Walid Regragui declared at a press conference. I have a lot of respect for Mbemba. Maybe it was the adrenaline that made him respond like that. There’s no problem. I regret because neither we nor the DRC were given a good image.”
Before this incident, the Atlas Lions had conceded a draw against DR Congo (1-1) in a tense end to the match. A point which adds to their inaugural success against Tanzania (3-0) but which does not yet allow them to validate their presence in the round of 16. The DRC with two small points is in great danger before facing the same Tanzanians.
