21 January 2024 , 20:19
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Former Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba was at the heart of a huge brawl in the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.
DR Congo captain Mbemba, who now plays for French giants Marseille, shared a heated exchange of words with Morocco manager Walid Regragui after the two nations' 1-1 draw in the baking heat of San Pedro, Ivory Coast. The former Newcastle centre-back had been shown a yellow card during the game for arguing with the referee and tensions boiled over after full-time.
Mbemba clearly wasn't happy with Regragui's comments, gesturing towards the officials while players and coaches rushed in to create a melee. Footage showed crowds of people getting involved and the chaos got so much that Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou even had to drag team-mate Youssef En-Nesyri back by his shirt as the players finally made their way down the tunnel.
"It's the heat. It's a big match between two big nations," Congo boss Sebastien Desabre claimed post-match, with the temperature being 32 degrees Celsius at kick-off. "It's very hot. Very, very, very hot."
Morocco had got off to a perfect start when Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi broke the deadlock after just six minutes, assisted by a cross from ex-Chelsea midfielder Hakim Ziyech. Congo had the chance to reply before half-time but Cedric Bakambu, coincidentally Ziyech's team-mate at Galatasaray, hit the post with his 41st-minute penalty.
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14 minutes from time, though, Silas Katompa Mvumpa struck for Congo and made it 1-1, having been played in by team-mate Meschack Elia. As the top two sides in Group F looked to find a winner, with Morocco knowing that a win would've sent them though, Mbemba was booked in the 98th minute, preempting the carnage.
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It all kicked off after Morocco were held to a 1-1 draw by Congo (SIA KAMBOU/AFP via Getty Images)The 29-year-old began his senior career with Belgian heavyweights Anderlecht before Newcastle signed him in July 2015. The Magpies were relegated in his difficult first season at St James' Park, but Mbemba was part of the squad which won promotion back to the top of flight at the first time of asking in the 2016-17 campaign.
His third season would prove to be his last, as Porto signed him for a reported fee of £7.14million in the summer of 2018. Four years with the Portuguese side, twice crowned champions during his stay, then led to a move to Marseille, where he's played ever since.