Africa Cup of Nations chaos as Morocco star chases opponent and brawl breaks out in tunnel before ace racially abused

CONGO’S ex-Prem star Chancel Mbemba was racially abused on social media after a row with Morocco’s manager Walid Regragui sparked a huge brawl in their Afcon clash.

The two African nations drew 1-1 in an ill-tempered match in the Ivory Coast after Congolese ace Silas cancelled out Achraf Hakimi‘s early opener.

An angry brawl ensued at the Africa Cup of Nations clash between Congo and MoroccoAP

Congo’s Chancel Mbemba tackles Youssef En-Nesyri before their post-match fall-out

Morocco star Youssef En-Nesyri chased Mbemba down the tunnel

But a brawl followed at full-time when Mbemba and Regragui collided following an angry exchange at Afcon.

Footage showed members of both teams pushing each other after the final whistle.

According to AP, the Moroccan manager sought ex-Newcastle ace Mbemba – who played for the Toon between 2015 and 2018 – when the centre-back appeared to be praying on his knees.

The Marseille star took the 48-year-old tactician’s hand and clapped him on the back in what appeared to be a a friendly exchange.

But Regragui kept hold of the 29-year-old’s hand and carried on talking to him.

The Congo international angrily pulled his hand away and gestured towards the video referee before players from both sides jumped in.

But that wasn’t the end of it as the fracas continued when the defender made his way down the tunnel.

Morocco star Youssef En-Nesyri angrily ran towards Mbemba and team-mate Yassine Bounou tied to hold him back.

Players from both teams chased after En-Nesyri to make sure things didn’t get out of hand.

After the game, Mbemba was racially abused on Instagram as yobs replied to his latest posts with monkey and gorilla emojis and added some vile statements.

The Congo captain decided against addressing the full version of events but praised Regragui as he called him a “great man”.

Mbemba said: “I respect the coach who is a great man. The TV cut the videos, but I have them. I don’t need to swing them.

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“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.”

Regragui, who led Morocco to a historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup and made them the first ever African side to reach the semi-finals, offered his version of events.

The former Toulouse player told L’Equipe: “I said to [Congo manager Sebastien] Desabre: ‘Bring him back to me, he’s going crazy, he’s talking nonsense’. I didn’t like it because it insinuates a lot of things.

“So if he has images other than what we see on television, let him take them out, with pleasure. And he’ll see exactly what happened.

“And that’s what happened… Before I went to shake his hand, he took me and my assistant to task on the sidelines before the end of the game, he spoke badly to us. And Desabre knows it.”

Morocco coach Walid Regragui during the game against Congo