Tear gas as African Cup opens in Equatorial Guinea
Reuters
2012-01-21
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STORY: Police used tear gas as they struggled to control thousands of soccer fans who turned up on Saturday at the Bata stadium in Equatorial Guinea for the opening match of the African Cup of Nations.
Crowds pushed on barriers to be let into the stadium as thousands had to queue and stream through for the opening ceremony and the first match that will see the host team play Libya.
Host Equatorial Guinea have been offered an extraordinary incentive by their own government: $1 million to win the tournament's first match.
Libya's improbable qualification for the 16-team tournament, which came against the odds and in the midst of the turmoil of the overthrow last year of Muammar Gaddafi's regime, has made the players a potent symbol in the rebuilding of their country and given their task at the tournament a greater weight.
STORY: Police used tear gas as they struggled to control thousands of soccer fans who turned up on Saturday at the Bata stadium in Equatorial Guinea for the opening match of the African Cup of Nations.
Crowds pushed on barriers to be let into the stadium as thousands had to queue and stream through for the opening ceremony and the first match that will see the host team play Libya.
Host Equatorial Guinea have been offered an extraordinary incentive by their own government: $1 million to win the tournament's first match.
Libya's improbable qualification for the 16-team tournament, which came against the odds and in the midst of the turmoil of the overthrow last year of Muammar Gaddafi's regime, has made the players a potent symbol in the rebuilding of their country and given their task at the tournament a greater weight.
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