Africa: Afcon 2015 - Does The Host Have The Capacity to Provide Security?

Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Yaya Toure holds aloft the African Cup of Nations trophy after Cote d'Ivoire won the 2015 final against Ghana in a penalty shoot-out in Bata on February 8.
6 February 2015
allAfrica.com
By Nick Said

The idea that the African Nations Cup finals in Equatorial Guinea would be remembered as a triumph for the tiny central African country was banished last night as riot police beat violent spectators and a helicopter hovered just metres from the ground directing their assault.

Ghana's 3-0 win over the host nation in their semifinal was halted for 34 minutes as home fans pelted their Ghanaian counterparts forcing the visitors to leave the stands and gather by the pitch.

Rocks and bottles filled with urine rained down on opposing fans, photographers and security personnel, thrown by home fans unable to accept their side's capitulation on the pitch. And after the euphoria of seeing their side make the last four, admittedly with some help along the way, perhaps the Equatorial Guinea fans showed their true colours.

What will be interesting now will be the response of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The game on the continent already has a reputation for violence, ill-discipline and, unfortunately, tragedies have been more common than in other parts of the world.

For these scenes to take place in CAF's flagship tournament, no less a high-profile semifinal watched by many around the world - is deeply embarrassing, not just for the organisation itself, but the tournament sponsors too.

But CAF owe a debt of gratitude to Equatorial Guinea as well for funding this tournament at such short notice and while we wait for the outcome of their inquiry, you feel the smart money will be on a slap on the wrist or a shift of the blame elsewhere so as to keep the politicians happy.

What should happen is that Equatorial Guinea be banned from playing home matches for some period in the Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers later in the year.

Certainly the players and coach were quick to condemn the actions of their own fans.

"I am sad about the way the fans acted out there," coach Esteban Becker said.

Key player Emilio Nsue was also quick to apologise.

"Regarding the public and the way they acted, I've never experienced that. I'd like to say sorry, it was something we've never experienced before," he said.

Security is likely to be heightened for Saturday's third-place play-off between the host nation and DR Congo, though whether Equatorial Guinea has the know-how and capacity to provide the necessary support is open to debate.

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