Fans turn violent following host nation Cote d’Ivoire’s embarrassing defeat to Equatorial Guinea

Police have been mobilised after supporters of the host nation Cote d’Ivoire resorted to violence following the country’s disastrous 4-0 loss to Equatorial Guinea in their final group game on Monday.

In a video seen by Peoples Gazette, the body of a bus apparently forced to be abandoned as a result of the violence was riddled with holes that looked like it was pelted by stones.

The windows of the bus were also shattered.

Another video showed things being burnt in the streets of Abidjan as police could be seen converging around the area. “Had to run for cover after escaping on the bus,” a Nigerian journalist covering the tournament said in a WhatsApp group for reporters covering the 2023 AFCON.

“…and hide my journalist tag,” he added.

The shocking defeat to Equatorial Guinea left Cote d’Ivoire with a very slim chance of advancing to the knockout phase of the tournament as one of the four third-best-placed teams in the group stage.

With three points and a negative three-goal difference, the Ivorians can only hope that fewer than four teams better their group stage record to have the chance of reaching the round of 16.

Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria have already taken the two automatic qualification tickets to the round of 16 from Group A.