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Rabat – In a thrilling U23 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final last week, Morocco’s Atlas Lions triumphed over Egypt with a hard-fought 2-1 victory in extra time. However, the game was marred by shocking incidents involving Egyptian players and subsequent media polarization, highlighting a lack of fair play, respect, and self-victimization among certain members of the Egyptian team.
Casting shadow over the epic game and Morocco’s remarkable sporting achievement, post-match discussions were dominated by acts of aggression committed by Egyptian players, sparking anger among Moroccan football fans and the wider football community.
After the game ended, a series of shocking videos surfaced online, showing instances of violence from some of Egypt’s U 23 players.
One of the incidents involved Egyptian player Mostafa Saad, who threw a bottle at several Moroccan fans after his team’s defeat. A video documented the moment the bottle landed on a Moroccan supporter’s face.
Saad’s show of unwarranted violence, which occurred in full view of the authorities, sparked outrage among the Moroccan public, who took to social media to express their indignation.
Other videos documented incidents of similar nature, including one showing an Egyptian player assaulting a ball boy. The footage showed the footballer running at full speed before kicking the young boy.
Read also: With Football’s Return, Hooliganism and Violence Rears Its Ugly Head
The shocking incidents prompted many Moroccans to call on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to respond to the unacceptable behavior and take appropriate measures and disciplinary actions against the players involved.
In addition, critics condemned the perceived lack of fair play and sportsmanship from the Egyptian team, with their behavior tarnishing the image of a renowned footballing nation.
“An Egyptian player injures a Moroccan female fan with a bottle of water after losing the U-23 African Cup of Nations Final. Legal action should be taken by the football association and the lady who was hit,” said a Twitter user.
Describing the Egyptian players’ actions as “shameful,” “disgraceful,” and “unprofessional,” many Moroccan social media users called on Morocco’s Royal Football Federation (FMRF) to interfere and report the incidents to FIFA and CAF.
“This cannot go unnoticed. The Moroccan football federation needs to file a complaint to CAF or FIFA,” another commenter tweeted, denouncing the concerned player’s lack of respect and fair play.
