The semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations between Equatorial Guinea and Ghana descended into chaos as crowd trouble erupted. Fans of the host
ADVERTISEMENTThe semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations between Equatorial Guinea and Ghana descended into chaos as crowd trouble erupted.
Fans of the host nation Equatorial Guinea began pelting the Ghana players with bottles as police escorted them off the pitch at half-time with Ghana leading 2-0 at the interval.
Samuel Adano a Ghanaian journalist witnessed events:
“This is disgusting. A game of football you either win, lose or draw. So if you lose do you throw bottles or stones? I’m mean it is unreasonable. I think the government or the CAF must take a look at this and consider punishment, because this is not football.”
Eight minutes from time Ghana fans sought sanctuary behind the goal after they came under attack from supporters of the host nation.
Police fired tear gas and a helicopter used its rotors to disperse supporters.
Trouble continued outside the stadium.
The violence disappointed many fans who are such a feature of the tournament: “Oh, it’s too bad, it’s too bad, because I know Equatorial Guinea and Ghana, we are friends, you know. This football, its a game. It’s something that when we play it’s all happiness. Either you lose, you win or draw.”
Morocco was due to stage the tournament, but demanded a postponement because of the Ebola outbreak.
Equatorial Guinea stepped in at the last minute and questions are now being asked about whether security for such a high-profile event can be cobbled together in eight weeks.
Ghana won the match 3-0 and meet the Ivory Coast in Sunday’s final.