Africa Cup of Nations: Chaotic scenes blight African curtain-raiser

By Mark Walsh in Bata
Published on Sunday 22 January 2012 01:27

Thousands of fans forced their way into the Bata Stadium complex for yesterday’s opening match of the African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, prompting police to use tear gas.

Police tried to check fans’ tickets one by one at the main gate to the complex ahead of Equatorial Guinea’s Group A match against Libya, but several times the crush proved too much and the gates were opened to allow scores of supporters through without being checked.

On at least one occasion, tear gas was used on the crowd. The gate opens on to a road leading to the stadium proper and, in theory, fans still needed a ticket to get inside.

As the crush threatened a potential disaster, Israeli security advisers ordered the gates to be opened.

Earlier, it appeared security forces had the situation in hand. Police had set up roadblocks within a few miles in all directions from the stadium, while all vehicles entering the stadium complex had to pass through a giant metal detector. Rifle-toting guards wearing all-over body armour were frisking fans and inside the complex, a police dog patrol was at the ready, along with armoured vehicles with heavy-calibre gun turrets.

Despite the security presence, fans seemed to be enjoying the pre-match atmosphere, blowing vuvuzelas and waving national flags as they streamed towards the 37,500-capacity venue.

And supporters celebrated wildly when Javier Balboa scored in the 86th minute to give the co-hosts a surprise 1-0 win over Libya. The former Real Madrid striker Balboa was sent clear by an incisive pass from substitute Daniel Ekedo and sidefooted a curling shot past goalkeeper Samir Aboud.

Equatorial Guinea were making their debut in the finals and starting the match with 11 players who were born abroad. Libya qualified for the finals despite the on-going conflict in their country.

The game started seven minutes late following the opening ceremony and a speech by President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mbasogo which lasted several minutes while the teams were lined up and ready for kick-off.

Equatorial Guinea took the field with five players born in Spain, two in Ivory Coast and one each from Cameroon, Liberia, Cape Verde and Brazil. Some qualified through parentage while others were naturalised, arousing debate over whether they had lived in the country for five years as required by FIFA.

In the later game at the same venue Zambia beat Group A favourites Senegal 2-1.

Emmanuel Mayuka headed the opener after 12 minutes and Zambia added a second from Rainford Kalaba nine minutes later. Substitute Dame Ndoye pulled one back for Senegal with 16 minutes to go but it was not enough.

Meanwhile, the Libyan team says it forced the Confederation of African Football to change its website for not using the new flag adopted since Muammar Gaddafi’s overthrow. Team media officer Fathi Aborzeza said that Libya threatened to boycott all media and stop co-operating with African Cup of Nations organisers until the blunder was fixed.

Aborzeza says CAF deleted the old green flag for the new black, red and green flag just hours before the opening match.

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