Equatorial Guinea FA bans Malabo supporters from 3rd place match


The Equatorial Guinea Football Association has banned supporters in Malabo from entering the Estadio de Malabo where the third place match between hosts Equatorial Guinea and DR Congo will be played tomorrow.

This comes after some Black Stars players and Ghanaian fans were attacked by the Equato-Guinean fans at the stadium during their semi final game yesterday.

The obviously disgruntled fans of Equatorial Guinea threw bottles, stones, glasses and other materials onto the pitch while the match was ongoing after Ghana’s Captain Dede Ayew scored a brilliant third goal.

The chaos caused a hold up of the match for over 30 minutes while authorities tried their best to calm the angry fans. Even the players at a point pleaded with the fans to stay calm and allow the match to proceed but all these fell on deaf ears.

Speaking on Asempa FM this morning, Vice president of the Equatorial Guinea FA, Pedro Ondo Abeku said investigations have begun into the matter.

He added that supporters in Malabo have been banned from going to watch the finals.

He apologised for the unfortunate scenario adding that what happened yesterday was the first in the history of the country.

He said “what i would like to do is apologise really on behalf of the Equatorial Guinea Football Association. Our supporters have never behaved like this, so I don’t know what happened yesterday.”

The Vice President however said because the country had a limited time to plan adequately they could not put in measures which would have prevented such occurrences.

He said special security measures are being put in place to ensure that the final match between Ghana and Ivory Coast will be safer for both players and supporters.

Some soccer fans here in Ghana are however worried about the violence which erupted in Malabo.

Those who spoke to Joy News have asked that some form of protection be provided for the Ghanaian delegation in Equatorial Guinea.

Joy News’ Delali Atiase reports from the Black Stars hotel in Malabo that calm has been restored. City authorities are clearing debris from yesterday’s chaos.

He said CAF will later today hold an executive committee meeting on what happened for a possible punitive action to be taken against Equatorial Guinea.

Some Ghanaians who got injured during the chaos, he said are doing well and responding to treatment.

Ghanaian residents in the country – especially those who own businesses are unable to open their shops or go about their normal duties as they used to, they are living in a state of panic, he said.


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