Morocco star grabs teammate running at former Newcastle man during AFCON brawl

The Al Hilal goalkeeper is perhaps best-known for his heroics at the 2022 World Cup, and showed his leadership again after a 1-1 draw against DR Congo.

Pre-tournament favourites Morocco were held at the Stade Laurent Pokou as Stuttgart's Silas cancelled out an opener from Paris Saint-Germain's Achraf Hakimi.

The result became a sideshow, though, as a brawl was sparked on pitch at full-time, with the teams' benches spilling onto the playing surface as dozens began shoving and pushing.

Local media report that current Marseille and former Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba caused the drama by making offensive gestures towards players and Morocco coach Walid Regragui towards the end of the game.

Regragui was seen marching on to confront Mbemba and a handshake got out of hand before shoving started.

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Things then spiralled as players then began sprinting towards the tunnel.

Among them was two-time Europa League-winning Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri who looked hell-bent on confronting Mbemba off the pitch.

Quick to sense the danger was Bono, who was seen turning, spotting En-Nesyri and grabbing hold of him in dramatic scenes.

The keeper hooked onto his former Sevilla teammate's shirt and yanked him back with Mbembe metres ahead.

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Speaking post match, Congo coach Sebastien Desabre was asked what caused the drama, and chose to blame the 32 degree heat in the Ivory Coast.

"It's the heat," he said. "It's a big match between two big nations. It's very hot. Very, very, very hot."

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Regragui was similarly restrained after the game, adding: "I have nothing to say, I have a lot of respect for Mbemba.

"It was perhaps the adrenaline that made him respond like that, there is no problem. I regret it because we have not given a good image, neither us, nor the DRC."

Later, he was asked to expand on the confrontation, and added: "Before I went to shake his hand, he attacked me and my assistant on the sidelines before the end of the match, he spoke badly to us.

"At the end, despite that, I went to shake his hand to also ask him: 'But why are you talking to me like that?'

"He looked away, like 'I'm not shaking your hand'. I held his hand, you can see it in the images, and he started shouting in all directions."

Mbemba later gave his version of events, adding: "We cut the videos on TV but I have the videos. I don't need to say anything more.

"I'm not a great player but I didn't believe that that word was going to come out of the coach's mouth."