AFRICAN CUP 2015

  

  

Ghana players and fans pelted with missiles in Equatorial Guinea win

Ghana 3-0 Equatorial Guinea 
• Ayew 42pen 75, Wakaso 45 

The Africa Cup of Nations semi-final was halted eight minutes from time on Thursday amid violent scenes as Ghana supporters sought refuge on the pitch when missiles rained down from angry Equatorial Guinea fans.

Ghana were leading 3-0 in a tempestuous semi-final at the Nuevo Estadío de Malabo against the tournament hosts. Play eventually resumed after around half an hour and Ghana saw out the match to earn a place in the final against Ivory Coast.

Ghana supporters, corralled into an enclosure to the side of the 15,000-capacity stadium, spilt on to the playing area and amassed behind the goal after fleeing a deluge of water bottles and cans.

A helicopter flew over the stadium in a bid to bring calm but Equatorial Guineafans continued throwing objects on to the field. They had started in the first half after their side went behind to a controversial 42nd-minute penalty.

Ghana players had to be protected by riot police using plastic shields as they left the field at the end of the first half and the second period was delayed by two minutes as home fans aimed plastic bottles and tin cans at Ghana’s bench.

The Confederation of African Football used the public address system to threaten to call off the game if the crowd did not stop pelting Ghana’s players.

The second half was halted briefly, first as a linesman had to flee infield to escape more missiles and again eight minutes from time when Ghana supporters sought sanctuary on the field after coming under attack from locals.

The players remained on the field with the referee as officials struggled to bring order. The Equatorial Guinea captain, Emilio Nsue, took to the microphone to appeal for calm as the delay continued past 10 minutes.