Atlas Lions captain emphasizes importance of keeping emotions in check after clash with Congolese team

A fiery exchange marred the end of the Morocco vs. DR Congo AFCON clash on Saturday, leading to a scuffle and sparking debate. On Sunday evening, Atlas Lions captain Romain Saiss has taken to Instagram to offer a message of unity and perspective.

The incident unfolded after the final whistle, with tensions boiling over as Morocco team manager Walid Regragui approached Congolese skipper Chancel Mbemba. Already on a yellow card for dissent, Mbemba's apparent gestures towards the video assistant referee ignited the fuse, triggering a brief melee involving players from both sides.

In his clarifying statement, Saiss emphasized the importance of keeping emotions in check. «Football remains a sport... with adrenaline and something like that... What is certain is that the conflict remains on the field. We all make mistakes due to pressure and the challenge in a great competition. But we must not mix things up and let hatred find its way from both sides».

He further stressed the shared identity of all participants: «We are all proud to represent Africa, and proud to be Africans, whatever our origins. We are not divided over these matters. This is football. Let us be united to show the best during this tournament, and the friendship that unites our continent».

Saiss's sentiments echoed a similar stance from Congolese coach Sébastien Desabre, who attributed the incident to the intense heat and high stakes of the match. «It's the heat. It's a big match between two big nations», Congo coach said. «It's very hot. Very, very, very hot».

Despite the unfortunate ending, Morocco remains atop Group F with four points, followed by DR Congo (2 points), Zambia (1 point), and Tanzania (0 points). For the record, Morocco will face Zambia on January 24.