President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea took a notably balanced and conciliatory tone in his public address following the violent incidents that marred the semi-final match of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations between Ghana and Equatorial Guinea.
In a speech aimed at calming national tensions and restoring the image of the host country, he reminded his fellow citizens of the true spirit of sport:
“Football, like all sports, can be compared to a judicial procedure, in which there must be a winner and a loser, and whose verdict, when fair, must not cause disagreements.”
He urged fans to accept defeat with dignity, emphasizing that drastic or violent reactions have no place in sports culture:
“This is a prerequisite that all fans of this sport and supporters or sympathizers of the teams must assimilate, without it involving drastic events.”
The president also praised the security forces—particularly the deployment of a low-flying helicopter, which helped disperse violent crowds and prevent the situation from spiraling further out of control. The security intervention was seen as decisive in allowing the match to resume after a 30-minute interruption caused by unrest and attacks on Ghanaian fans and players.
Obiang’s message was both a call for national reflection and an effort to distance his government from the actions of a minority of unruly supporters, while reaffirming the values of peace, sportsmanship, and hospitality that Equatorial Guinea sought to demonstrate as emergency hosts of the tournament.
