Moroccan Football Federation Addresses Controversy After Draw with DR Congo in AFCON Match

In a statement, the FRMF recalled the "particular and historical relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as the fraternal ties between the peoples of the two countries." It mentions an exceptional cooperation relationship between the FRMF and the Congolese Federation (FECOFA). "The number of Congolese players playing in Morocco and the existing football exchanges between the two federations are the true testimony of this," it explains, before deploring "without being in the logic of accusation, all the unsportsmanlike acts that followed this match".

"The President of the FRMF, Mr. Fouzi Lekjaa, was the first to congratulate the coach of the Congolese team, Sébastien Desabre, reflecting the state of mind of the selection that was manifested throughout the match. Moreover, the Moroccan player Achraf Hakimi attended to the care of the Congolese player Henoc Inonga Baka," the same source points out. And to add: "By providing these clarifications, the FRMF reiterates its commitment to the values of good conduct, ethics and fair play and considers that these facts will only strengthen the fraternal ties between the two countries."

Before this clarification from the governing body, Walid Regragui assured that he had not made any racist remarks against Chancel Mbemba as the Leopards captain had insinuated. "I told him: ’You’re showing off!’ And he tells me: ’You called me an asshole!’ There’s no problem that he heard that, even if I never said it, but by talking the way he did, he implies that my remarks are racist, it’s dishonest. Since he only talks about religion in his speech, let him be a little honest with himself," the coach of the Moroccan national team said to the newspaper L’Équipe.