AFCON 2023: Why DR Congo Players Covered Their Mouths With Hands During National Anthem

• DR Congo players highlighted the plight of their people at AFCON
• The team protested during the recitation of the national anthem
• DR Congo lost to the Ivory Coast and will next face South Africa

Players of the Democratic Republic of Congo will return to Kinshasa with their heads high after an amazing run at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

The two-time African champions fell short in their semi-final against the host nation, after Sebastien Haller's second-half strike sent the Elephants into the final.

However, before the game kicked off, the players of DR Congo were spotted using an unfamiliar gesture while the national anthem was being recited.

The team covered their mouths with one hand with the other pointing towards their head, quite similar to the new style used by Marcus Rashford celebration.

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Asked about the gesture after the game, DR Congo coach, Sebastien Desabre, explained it was to highlight the atrocities currently ongoing in the Eastern part of the country.

"The national team is a symbol of national pride, and we wanted to use this opportunity tonight to highlight all the atrocities happening in Eastern DR Congo," he said during the post-match presser.

Meanwhile, before the match, forward Cedric Bakambu had urged followers of African football to use the tournament to talk about the unfortunate happenings in Eastern Congo.

"Everyone sees the massacres in Eastern Congo. But everyone is silent. Use the same energy that you put into talking about the CAN to highlight what is happening with us, there are no small gestures," the ex-Marseille forward wrote on social media.

Bakambu also asked for people to act via sharing, acting, and praying for the 'brothers and sisters'.

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"Peace for the DRC. The world sees what is happening in Eastern Congo but nothing changes, everyone is silent. With my Foundation I modestly try to make myself useful locally but it will never be enough."

DR Congo will face South Africa in the third-place play-off on Sunday in Abidjan.

DR Congo lose to Ivory Coast in semis

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that DR Congo suffered a defeat to Ivory Coast in the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ebimpe.

Sebastian Haller's second-half volley was enough as the host nation set up a mighty clash with the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the final.

DR Congo will now face South Africa's Bafana Bafana on Saturday in the third-place play-off as AFCON 2023 comes to an end on Sunday.