A Crucial International Soccer Match Sparked A Massive Riot In Africa
Players dodged projectiles and hid under riot shields.
In the second leg of a qualifying match for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations — the most important soccer tournament in Africa — the Ivory Coast played Senegal in Dakar. The Ivory Coast was ahead 4-2 on aggregate after a first-leg victory, meaning Senegal needed a lopsided victory to qualify.
Didier Drogba put the Ivory Coast up 1-0 with a spectacular free kick, all but sealing Senegal’s exit from the tournament.
Source: youtube.com
Drogba later added a second goal from the penalty spot, and down 2-0, and the scene in Senegal turned ugly. Home fans started small fires around the stadium.
Image by Stringer / Reuters
Police forces fired tear gas into the crowd, but it did little to deter rioters.
Image by Stringer / Reuters
Image by Stringer / Reuters
Fans threw stones, trash, cans, and whatever else they could find.
Image by Associated Press / AP
Some players took cover cover under riot shields and ran off the pitch, others huddled near midfield and waited for vehicles to drive them away.
Image by Associated Press / AP
Image by Getty Images / Getty Images
Image by Stringer / Reuters
The Ivory Coast fans in attendance were in the greatest danger, as Senegalese fans soon began pelting them with stones. Many people jumped over the upper-level barricades to relative safety on the lower levels.
Image by Stringer / Reuters
“The police told us to jump. We had to jump. It was very dangerous,” an Ivory Coast supporter told the BBC.
Image by Stringer / Reuters
After the players had escaped, Ivory Coast fans were gathered in the center of the field and left to wait until the rioters dispersed.
Image by Stringer / Reuters
A few fans had to be carried out of the stadium on stretchers, and many others suffered minor wounds.
Image by Stringer / Reuters
The match was abandoned, meaning the Ivory Coast will advance to next year’s tournament and Senegal is eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations. According to the BBC, a Senegalese official expects heavy sanctions to be levied by the Confederation of African Football.
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