Congo DR captain Chancel Mbemba faced a barrage of racist abuse on social media after guiding his team to a 1-1 draw against Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.
Mbemba, who plays for the top-tier French club Marseille, became the target of racist comments and monkey or gorilla emojis on his Instagram account following the match.
The 29-year-old, who is Black, had a heated exchange with Morocco coach Walid Regragui after the game. The altercation escalated into a brawl involving players and officials from both teams as they left the field and entered the players' tunnel.
The incident occurred when Regragui approached Mbemba, who was on his knees expressing gratitude in a personal moment. Mbemba initially responded with a handshake and a pat on the back, but Regragui continued talking, prompting Mbemba to pull away and gesture for the video referee. The situation quickly escalated, leading to the involvement of players from both sides.
Mbemba later hinted to reporters that Regragui had insulted him, stating, "I'm keeping my silence; it's better. Everybody knows me, I respect everyone. But I never thought I'd hear that word from the coach, that it would come from his mouth."
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