BREAKING: Ghana Risks Heavy CAF Sanctions As Fans Invade, Vandalise Stadium
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) faces potential disciplinary action, including a significant fine, from the governing body of African football, CAF, subsequent to the unfortunate pitch invasion by enthusiastic fans during the Black Stars’ encounter with Angola.
On Thursday evening, a segment of disgruntled Ghanaian football enthusiasts, fuelled by frustration and disappointment, stormed the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, subsequent to the national team’s heartbreaking 1-0 defeat at the hands of Angola.
A disturbing video clip, which has surfaced on various social media platforms and been viewed by SaharaReporters, captures the chaotic scene unfolding on the pitch.
The footage reveals irate fans hurling plastic bottles and assorted objects onto the field in a display of discontent, triggered by the concession of a devastating 93rd-minute goal in the Group F showdown of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier.
The frustrated fans destroyed virtually all the pitch perimeter panels installed at the facility.
The angry fans were disappointed that despite Ghana fielding six top players from the English Premier League, Angola played a compact game, leaving little space for the home side to exploit.
The Palancas Negras maintained their composure throughout the match and caught the Ghanaians on the counterattack in the 93rd minute to score the only goal of the game.
Angola’s victory ends Ghana’s 24-year unbeaten streak at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, a venue where many top teams had previously fallen to the Black Stars.
The West African country has previously been fined for similar incidents.
In January, CAF slapped a $15,000 fine on the Ghana Football Association for fan invasion.
This was after some fans breached security protocol in the Africa Cup of Nations group game between Ghana and Cape Verde on Sunday, January 14, 2024.
Pitch invasion in African football games is not a strange thing.
A similar incident happened in Nigeria in March 2022 when irate fans invaded the main bowl of the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja and destroyed everything in sight immediately after Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Ghana, which ended the Super Eagles’ dream of reaching a seventh World Cup appearance in Qatar two years ago.
