The Africa Cup of Nations game turned violent on Thursday.
The semifinal between Ghana and host Equatorial Guinea was halted to have police settle down the rowdy crowd. Ghana got off to a 3-0 lead, which upset the home fans and caused them to throw bottles.
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Announcement threatening abandonment if bottle-throwing continues. More bottles thrown immediately.
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) February 5, 2015Bottle throwing was just the beginning. The home fans turned on the Ghana supporters in the crowd and started attacking them. The match was obviously suspended due to the chaos happening in the stands.
#Ghana fans moved out of the stadium with barbaric acts of vandalism and unprovoked violent attacks still going on. pic.twitter.com/iOJ3vY8VER
— Ghana FA Official (@ghanafaofficial) February 5, 2015#Ghana fans being attacked in the stands. They are ushered onto the pitch and more misses fly in. Game halted pic.twitter.com/hEBWIquzDH
— Ghana FA Official (@ghanafaofficial) February 5, 2015Police had to arrive on the scene in a helicopter.
Police helicopter hovers above the pitch with the #Ghana fans in real danger. It's now like a war zone. #AFCON2015 pic.twitter.com/9s7UkrYxQF
— Ghana FA Official (@ghanafaofficial) February 5, 2015Police helicopter so low over ground a whirlwind of debris being flung up.
— Jonathan Wilson (@jonawils) February 5, 2015Riot police now in the stands with peoper spray and batons.Looks like order to,disperse crowd has been given
— Godfred Akoto Boafo (@eastsportsman) February 5, 2015Tear gas has been fired into the crowd now.Gana fans slowly being moved away into safety pic.twitter.com/I1ynIhhffC
— Godfred Akoto Boafo (@eastsportsman) February 5, 2015According to reports, the Ghanaian fans were escorted by police down the tunnel that the players and officials use. The game continued despite the use of police helicopters and tear gas. Officials let players finish out three minutes of the eight that were remaining on the clock.
Ghana won 3-0 and will go on to the AFCON final to face Cote d'Ivoire, but that was clearly not the takeaway from this game.
