AFCON: Morocco coach handed 2-match ban over DR Congo melee

Morocco coach Walid Regragui has been banned for four matches — two of which were suspended — a few hours before his side’s final group match at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The ban, which was announced by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday, was in response to the heated scenes last Sunday at the end of the team’s encounter against DR Congo.

Morocco and DR Congo played out a 1-1 draw and both teams qualified as Group F winner and runner-up respectively.

However, during the heated encounter, players from both teams clashed at different times.

The confrontations boiled over after the final whistle, as several players and officials were seen dashing into the tunnel to join the fracas.

Regragui, who led Morocco to a semi-final place at the FIFA World Cup in 2022, had been involved in an on-field spat with DR Congo’s captain Chancel Mbemba.

In a statement, CAF said the disciplinary board found the Moroccan FA (RMFF), the Congolese FA (COD), and coach Regragui guilty on separate charges.

The African football governing body also imposed fines of $20,000 each on the soccer federations of Morocco and Congo, plus $5,000 on Regragui.

Two matches of Regragui’s ban were also suspended for a year.

The 48-year-old coach watched from the stands as Morocco beat Zambia 1-0 in their final group game late Wednesday. He is also likely to miss their last-16 match against South Africa next Tuesday unless an appeal by the RMFF is successful.

According to CAF, all decisions and penalties will only be enforced upon expiration of the appeal limit.

Photo credit: AP