Faith Nyasuguta
In Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, turmoil has erupted following Equatorial Guinea’s 4-0 victory over the 2023 AFCON hosts in the Group A final match on Monday.
Disheartened fans left the Alassane Ouattara Stadium prematurely, leading to incidents of vandalism and destruction of vehicles witnessed by news reporters.
Amidst the chaos, it remains unclear if there were any injuries or fatalities resulting from the upheaval. Inside the stadium, a few fans clashed with stewards, throwing water bottles and chairs onto the pitch. The Côte d’Ivoire national team players required a security escort to reach their locker room.
Despite the setback, the hosts currently hold the third position in the group with three points. They now pin their hopes on these points securing a place among the top four third-place finishers, who advance to the last 16.
Equatorial Guinea dominates Group A with seven points and a superior goal difference, leading second-placed Nigeria, who also boasts seven points. Guinea-Bissau concludes their tournament run with zero points from three matches.
Equatorial Guinea’s triumph saw Emilio Nsue scoring twice, complemented by goals from Pablo Ganet and Jannick Buyla. This comprehensive win secures their spot in the round of 16 alongside Nigeria.
Monday’s defeat marks Côte d’Ivoire’s most significant setback at the AFCON tournament since their 4-1 losses against Ghana in 1965 and Egypt in 2008. Despite the challenging outcome, the team remains in contention for further advancement, banking on their overall performance in the group stage.
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