This Saturday, the match between the Lions of Teranga and the Elephants turned into a nightmare with numerous scenes of violence at the Léopold-Sédar-Senghor stadium, a situation that may lead to sanctions.
Initially, the game proceeded without incident until the 70th minute, when the Senegalese, already trailing 1-0 from a free kick by Didier Drogba, conceded a penalty, sealing their certain elimination. As Drogba successfully converted the penalty, a supporter entered the pitch to approach and kiss him. The situation was swiftly controlled, but chaos ensued as bottles, stones, and other projectiles were thrown from the stands.
Panicked Ivorian supporters sought refuge on the pitch, protected by the police. The violence escalated with burning Senegalese flags and lit smoke bombs. Thirty minutes later, the match was definitively halted.
In the midst of the turmoil, players and referees, escorted by the police, managed to extricate themselves and return to the locker room. Later in the evening, news of the injury to Senegalese Sports Minister Malik Gackou added gravity to the clashes.
This incident raises questions about how a country passionate about football, but with recognized supporter fragility, reached such a point. The memories of violence following Senegal’s elimination at CAN 2008 in Ghana are still vivid. The CAF (Confederation of African Football) is expected to provide explanations given its history of dealing with such situations.
Anticipating the CAF’s firm stance on stadium violence, sanctions are likely for Senegal. In a recent incident, Etoile du Sahel was disqualified from the Champions League due to similar fan anger. Togo also faced repercussions after clashes following their elimination for CAN 2008, resulting in the deprivation of their Kégué stadium for a year.
