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In response to the events following the Morocco vs. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) football match, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) released a statement emphasizing the «distinguished and historical relations» between the two countries and the «bonds of brotherhood» between their peoples.
The RMFF highlighted the strong collaboration between the federations, citing the presence of Congolese players in Moroccan clubs and the existing partnership agreement as evidence of their friendly ties.
— FRMF (@FRMFOFFICIEL) January 22, 2024
They condemned «all unsportsmanlike behavior» without offering specific accusations, and pointed to President Fouzi Lekjaa's personal congratulations to the DRC coach as an example of sportsmanship.
The statement further clarified that Moroccan player Ashraf Hakimi was concerned about the treatment of DRC player Henok Inonga Baka, and reiterated the RMFF's commitment to «sportsmanship, ethics, and fair play». Notably, they assured that «these events will not affect in any way the fraternal ties between the two countries».
In contrast, the DRC Football Federation (FECOFA) offered a starkly different account, claiming their captain, Chancel Mbemba, faced «inappropriate expressions from the Moroccan players and their coach» and even physical assault in the locker room passageway. FECOFA expressed «strong indignation» and threatened potential disciplinary action through the Confederation of African Football to prevent similar incidents in the future.
