Senegal-Côte d'Ivoire African Nations Cup qualifier abandoned due to riot

Senegal's African Nations Cup qualifier against Côte d'Ivoire was abandoned due to rioting in Dakar last night, and it appears the hosts will be heading for the exit.

Côte d'Ivoire were 4-2 up from the first leg and took a 2-0 lead in the Stade Leopold Senghor thanks to two goals from Didier Drogba., putting them 6-2 up on aggregate, when trouble began to flare. In the 65th minute, with the score still 1-0, one fan burst onto the pitch and almost reached Drogba before he was seized and escorted away by security. Following the second goal, however, fires began to be lit in the stands and objects thrown, and the match was stopped in the 72nd minute.

Players and fans had to be escorted from the pitch by police with riot shields, and the Senegalese fans mostly ended up huddled on the pitch to escape the trouble in the stands as the rioting continued in the streets outside. No players from either side were harmed.

So far there has been no word on the result from the Confederation of African Football, but it is believed that Côte d'Ivoire's victory will stand.