In a shocking turn of events during a women's football friendly between DR Congo and Morocco, DR Congo's Ruth Kipoyi, 26, delivered a sucker punch to her opponent, stunning fans and players alike. The incident occurred shortly after half-time with DR Congo trailing 2-1.

Tensions flared when Kipoyi fouled a Moroccan player, igniting a mini brawl on the pitch. A Moroccan defender had to be restrained as she verbally clashed with Kipoyi. The situation escalated when Moroccan player Yasmine Mrabet intervened, prompting Kipoyi, who plays for Galatasaray, to throw a swift left hook that sent Mrabet to the ground.

The violent act drew immediate condemnation from fans on social media. One fan exclaimed, "This should be a lifelong ban from football? How can this happen on a football pitch," while another remarked, "That hook came out of nowhere!" The incident left many questioning Kipoyi's reaction, with one fan humorously noting, "Why does she look shocked after the punch as if she wasn’t the one who did it."

After the match, which Morocco won 3-2, Mrabet addressed the incident, emphasizing that such behavior has no place in football.

She stated, "This violent behaviour should not be accepted. During competition, disagreements can occur, tensions are bound to build, but there are lines which must never be crossed." Mrabet also highlighted the growth of African women's football, urging that this incident should not overshadow their achievements. "African teams are showing up on the world stage, and for a reason. The appropriate procedures are underway to report the past events and from now on I'm only looking forward."

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