The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has broken its silence regarding the incidents that occurred after the conclusion of the Morocco vs. DR Congo match in the second round of the Africa Cup of Nations, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
In an official statement, the highest football authority in Morocco provided clarification on the mentioned events, emphasizing the special and historical relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the bonds of brotherhood between the two nations.
The statement highlighted the exceptional cooperation between the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and the Congolese Football Federation, citing the number of Congolese players actively participating in Morocco and the ongoing football exchanges between the two federations as a testament to this collaboration.
Expressing disapproval of all non-sporting actions that followed the match, the statement refrained from making accusations. It noted that Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, was the first to congratulate DR Congo’s coach, Sébastien Desabre, reflecting the positive mindset of the Moroccan team throughout the match. Additionally, the statement mentioned that Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi ensured the proper medical attention for DR Congo’s player Hénoch Baka.
Concluding the statement, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation reiterated its commitment to values of good conduct, ethics, and fair play, asserting that these facts would only strengthen the fraternal ties between the two countries.
Earlier, the Congolese Football Federation issued a condemnatory statement, denouncing the events that transpired after the match and endorsing the account provided by Chancel Mbemba, the dean of the DR Congo national team. Mbemba alleged experiencing racial abuse from Moroccan head coach Walid Regragui after the match.
Reports indicate that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has initiated an investigation to uncover the reasons behind the altercation between Moroccan and Congolese players, aiming to identify those responsible and impose necessary sanctions in the coming days.
