Morocco and DR Congo put on a great show on the pitch this Sunday January 21 with a 1-1 draw in Group F. But, at the end of the meeting, it was simply deplorable.
There was indeed a general fight at the final whistle. The scuffles began after Chancel Mbemba and Walid Regragui had an altercation. According to beIN Sports, the Moroccan coach criticized the Congolese captain for refusing to greet him at the final whistle. The Moroccan technician did not appreciate it. “Look at me, Look at me!” “, he told him according to Onze Mondial.
Then, the different actors warmed up on the pitch, but also in the corridor leading to the locker rooms. Obviously, the actors of this Morocco-DR Congo were expected to explain the reasons for this post-match tension. Walid Regragui preferred to kick into touch while subtly accusing the Congolese defender.
“ I have nothing to say about that. 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 we did not give a good image to either us or the DRC ,” declared the Moroccan coach in comments relayed by journalist Hanif Ben Berkane.
As for his counterpart Sébastien Desabre, he explained why, in his opinion, there were these altercations. “ It’s very hot, on the bench we’re already tired, so the players… There was a bit of frustration on both sides. These are men’s matches so it’s normal. That’s what’s beautiful. There are tensions, it’s gone down again ,” first assures the Leopards coach on this Morocco-DR Congo.
Chancel Mbemba defends himself
Sébastien Desabre then wanted to defend his captain. “ Mbemba is someone extraordinary. There was a bit of frustration on both sides. We shouldn’t even mention these points. We are in the professional football community. These are men’s matches so it’s normal. That’s what’s beautiful. There were tensions, it has gone down again, we wish Morocco a lot of luck for the future .
“Mbemba had a less reconciliatory reaction. “I respect the coach who is a great man. The television cut the videos, but I have them. I don’t need to throw them around. I keep my silence, it’s better, that’s how I am. Everyone knows me, I respect everyone, I don’t need to shoot anyone but God’s justice is there.
When I play football I play normally, I’m not a great player. This WORD that he said, it is the coach himself who will say it. He himself will speak .” Note that after the meeting, on his Instagram page, Chancel Mbemba was the victim of racist insults.
