Chaos erupted at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi on Thursday evening after Ghana’s 1-0 loss to Angola in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group F qualifier.
A section of angry Ghanaian fans stormed the pitch following Angola’s dramatic 93rd-minute winner, hurling plastic bottles and other objects onto the field.
In the wake of the defeat, the frustrated crowd turned destructive, kicking over almost all the pitch panels installed at the stadium. The situation spiraled out of control before police intervened, managing to arrest one fan in connection with the vandalism. However, by the time the arrest was made, the damage to the stadium had already been done.
This latest incident of fan misconduct is expected to bring a heavy sanction from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), adding to the series of penalties Ghana has faced for similar disturbances during high-profile matches.
In January 2024, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) was slapped with a $15,000 fine by CAF after fans breached security protocol during an AFCON group stage match against Cape Verde. In an earlier case from November 2019, Ghana was fined $10,000 following a pitch invasion during an AFCON 2021 qualifier against South Africa at Cape Coast Stadium.
With Thursday’s events, Ghana risks further sanctions, potentially impacting future games at the Baba Yara Stadium. The GFA has yet to comment on the incident or any potential steps to address the behavior of fans at the stadium.
Ghana’s defeat to Angola has left the Black Stars with much work to do in their quest for AFCON qualification, but the focus now shifts to potential repercussions from the violence that marred the end of the match.