AFCON madness: Stretcher escape becomes the first tournament's viral moment
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 25.12.25. | 12:15
DR Congo midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy produced one of the AFCON's most surreal scenes so far
AFCON is back - and it didn't take long for the madness to arrive.
Forget Mohamed Salah's late drama for a moment. Africa has found another headline-maker, and his name is Samuel Moutoussamy.
The DR Congo midfielder went viral during his team's opening group win over Benin, producing one of the tournament's most surreal scenes. Injured and placed on a stretcher, Moutoussamy appeared to be on his way off - until suddenly, he sat bolt upright.
Then came the twist.
Samuel Moutoussamy 🇨🇩 talks about his stretcher exit:
— Troll Football Media (@Troll__Footbal) December 24, 2025
"I didn't need the stretcher, the referee told me 'if you don't get on the stretcher, I'm giving you a yellow card.'
I already had one so I didn't think twice."
AFCON never fails to deliverpic.twitter.com/o3vT0sa2am
In one smooth motion, he hopped off the stretcher and jogged straight back onto the pitch, as if nothing had happened. Social media exploded. Comparisons were instant and inevitable: The Undertaker, rising from the dead.
The moment summed up AFCON's unique chaos, but Moutoussamy was quick to explain the reality behind the theatre.
"I didn't need the stretcher," he said after the match. "The referee told me, 'If you don't get on it, I'll give you a yellow card.' I already had one, so I didn’t think twice."
Problem solved, card avoided, and AFCON folklore created.
Drama, personality, and moments you simply won’t see anywhere else. Moutoussamy and DR Congo now push on in a tough group alongside Senegal, Botswana and Benin.
AFCON has only just begun. And it's already delivering.
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS - GROUP STAGE
Friday
15.30: (1.82) Angola (3.45) Zimbabwe (4.70)
18.00: (1.95) Egypt (3.35) S.Africa (4.20)
20.30: (2.20) Zambia (3.15) Comores (3.60)
23.00: (1.55) Morocco (3.80) Mali (7.00)
Saturday
15.30: (1.70) Benin (3.50) Botswana (5.50)
18.00: (1.75) Senegal (3.50) Dr Congo (5.10)
20.30: (2.40) Uganda (3.10) Tanzania (3.20)
23.00: (2.40) Nigeria (3.10) Tunisia (3.20)
Sunday
15.30: (1.92) Gabon (3.35) Mozambique (4.30)
18.00: (2.50) Equatorial Guinea (3.10) Sudan (3.05)
20.30: (2.00) Algeria (3.35) Burkina Faso (4.00)
23.00: (2.20) Ivory Coast (3.15) Cameroon (3.60)
Monday
19.00: (5.50) Angola (3.50) Egypt (1.70)
19.00: (7.75) Zimbabwe (3.90) S.Africa (1.50)
22.00: (11.0) Comores (5.20) Mali (1.30)
22.00: (14.0) Zambia (6.00) Morocco (1.23)
***odds are subject to change***
