‘Serious outbreaks’ may send Senegal out

DAKAR - The Senegalese Football Federation has confirmed via its official website the “very sombre circumstances” that forced their African Nations Cup qualifier with Ivory Coast to be abandoned due to rioting.Ivory Coast were leading the match 2-0 at the Stade Leopold Senghor and 6-2 on aggregate - a result which appears likely to stand, sending Senegal out - when the match was stopped in the 72nd minute.After former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba had scored his second goal of the game from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, there were disturbances from the home fans in the stands, with small fires being set alight and objects thrown.Players and staff from both teams grouped together in the centre circle, while the Ivorian supporters had to flee onto the pitch, joining their national team, before being led to safety by the police. The match was abandoned 40 minutes later.The incident was confirmed on the official website of the Senegalese Football Federation: “Unfortunately the match ended in very sombre circumstances.“The referee was forced to stop in the match in the 72nd minute with the score at 2-0 because of serious outbreaks in the stands by very unhappy Senegalese supporters. The police took the public out after many confrontations.”There have been no reports of injuries sustained to players, with Manchester City issuing a statement on their official website that both Kolo and Yaya Toure were unharmed in the disturbances.Should the result stand, Ivory Coast’s qualification for January’s African Nations Cup will be assured, meaning the likes of Arsenal’s Gervinho, City’s Yaya and Kolo Toure, and Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote are likely to participate at the tournament.Newcastle pair Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse were also lining up for Senegal, along with West Ham’s Mohamed Diame in the match.Agencies

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‘Serious outbreaks’ may send Senegal out