The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has confirmed via its official
website the "very sombre circumstances" that forced their nation's
meeting with Ivory Coast to be abandoned due to rioting.
Ivory Coast were leading the African Nations Cup qualifier 2-0 at the
Stade Leopold Senghor and 6-2 on aggregate - a result which appears
likely to stand, sending Senegal out - when the match was stopped in the
72nd minute.
After former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba had scored his second goal of
the game from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, there were
disturbances from the home fans in the stands, with small fires being
set alight and objects thrown.
Players and staff from both teams grouped together in the centre circle,
while the Ivorian supporters had to flee onto the pitch, joining their
national team, before being led to safety by the police. The match was
abandoned 40 minutes later.
The incident was confirmed on the official website of the Senegalese
Football Federation: "Unfortunately the match ended in very sombre
circumstances.
"The referee was forced to stop the match in the 72nd minute with the
score at 2-0 because of serious outbreaks in the stands by very unhappy
Senegalese supporters. The police took the public out after many
confrontations."
There have been no reports of injuries sustained to players, with
Manchester City issuing a statement on their official website that both
Kolo and Yaya Toure were unharmed in the disturbances.
Should the result stand, Ivory Coast's qualification for January's
African Nations Cup will be assured, meaning the likes of Arsenal's
Gervinho, City's Yaya and Kolo Toure, and Newcastle midfielder Cheick
Tiote are likely to participate at the tournament.
Newcastle pair Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse were also lining up for Senegal, along with West Ham's Mohamed Diame in the match.
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