Equatorial Guinea-Ghana Riot: Joyous Evening Turns To Night Of Shame

Fans flee from tear gas as violence interrupts the African Cup of Nations semi-final

 The home fans began to cause trouble before half-time, hurling so many water bottles at the Ghana bench that their squad needed protection from riot police to get down the tunnel.

The bottle throwing continued, delaying the start of the second half and prompting the Equatorial Guinea players to plead with their own fans to stop.

But the pleas fell on deaf ears, and what should have been a night of celebration for the visiting Ghanaian fans inside the Estadio de Malabo became the stuff of nightmares.

                                             Piers Edwards removed these objects from the pitch

                                             A police helicopter hovers over the stadium

                                                           Ghana players leave the pitch at half time protected by riot police

                                                          Security officials drag an Equatorial Guinea fan from the pitch