Mass confusion erupted in Ghana this morning following newspaper articles stating five Ghanaians were killed and many more were stoned in Lagos following the Nigerian loss to the hosts.
It seems, however, that some Ghanaian journalists got the wrong end of the stick and the Nigerian authorities have acted quickly, announcing that the reports were unfounded.
“We wish to state categorically that no such attack on Ghanaians took place in Lagos and no Ghanaian had been killed or attacked as a result of the Ghana-Nigeria quarter-final match on 3 February 2008”, the statement said.
In fact, it was two stories getting mixed up. In Tamale, it was reported that four people were killed in the aftermath of the Ghana vs Nigeria game in the excitement. Overall, five people were killed and many more injured during partying by triumphant Ghanaians.
While the party atmosphere that has swept the country has lit up the tournament, it seems many went too far as carnival type processions filled the streets of Ghana. Tamale, in particular, was turned upside down as a general state of lawlessness erupted.
It was a reports involving Nigerians "stoning" Ghanaians following the game that resulted in the confusion. While this has been strongly denied, it certainly put a dampener on the tournament that so far has run with very little trouble or crime. Fans have regularly been seen celebrating together as most nations have taken an "all for one, and one for all" attitude. Now the friendly rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria has been spoilt by a small minority.
It's been refreshing to see so much positive influence on African football coming from Europe. Let's just hope the fans don't go the way of some of their neighbours...
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