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Crazy confrontation Ugly melee follows Cameroon's win over Nigeria
Posted: Sunday February 13, 2000 08:20 PM
LAGOS, Nigeria (Reuters) -- Police fired shots and teargas as thousands of fans went on the rampage after co-hosts Nigeria lost on penalties to Cameroon in the African Nations Cup final on Sunday, witnesses said. Reuters journalists and photographers said they heard shots being fired as clashes broke out inside and around the ground in what has become a sad ritual at the infamous Surulere stadium in Nigeria's commercial capital. The incidents once again brought into question the wisdom of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), who allowed the tournament to proceed in Lagos despite similar incidents at every previous Nigeria match. While Cameroon players were lifting the trophy, thousands of fans had already spilled onto the running track around the pitch. Teargas was seen in several parts of the ground as police, some on horseback, tried to restore order. Outside the stadium, war-like scenes were witnessed. Teargas pervaded the air, gangs of youths wielding sticks and other objects ran amok and the sounds of shots could be heard against the din of wailing sirens. Convoys of limousines, escorted by police menacingly wielding machine guns, forced their way through crowds of people as officials were taken away in safety. Ordinary fans and media were left to their own luck with police and security almost non-existent. There appeared to be no focal point to the trouble and police were not avaliable to comment on the number of injuries or arrests. Nigerian journalists said similar incidents at the stadium are so common that they do not even bother reporting them. The Nations Cup, co-hosted by Nigeria and Ghana, went off peacefully in Ghana but has been plagued by problems in Nigeria. After Nigeria's first match against Tunisia, journalists brawled in the interview area. In their second, when they drew 0-0 with Congo, Nigerian players were locked inside their dressing room for their own safety as a mob of their own supporters gathered outside to protest against their dismal performance. Bottles were thrown onto the pitch during the game and CAF warned that Nigeria could play behind closed doors if there were any more incidents. The warning went unheeded and worse followed during the quarter-final against Senegal. Thousands of fans rushed onto the pitch after Nigeria scored in extra time, having been wrongly informed that the golden goal rule was being applied. Play was halted for 10 minutes before the pitch could be cleared. Senegal's players, clearly unnerved and angry at the situation, considered retreating to their dressing room but eventually decided to play on. Despite this and rumours that the final could be switched to Accra, CAF backed down from their earlier threat and imposed a $10,000 fine which was later halved.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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