Violent scenes at the Abuja stadium, after Nigeria lost 2-0 to Cameroon in the All African Games soccer final, could result in Fifa sanctions. Fans threw plastic bottles on to the pitch and made obscene gestures at Cameroon’s players as they collected their gold medals on Thursday.
The All Africa Games champions needed protection from heavily armed riot policemen to reach their team bus, although their Nigerian counterparts were not involved in the fracas.
« A lot of weight will be put on the comments of the match referee and commissar (fourth official) in the match report, » a games spokesman said.
« There were rowdy scenes that Nigeria gains nothing from and for which the home federation may be heavily punished.
« The Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (the convenors of the games) will have the report before the curtain formally falls on the Games on Saturday. »
The match report, which would be submitted to Caf, could lead to stiff sanctions for the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), which has refused to make official comments on the incident.
« Sanctions could include a fine or even a ban on the stadium, which would be a major blow, given that this [Abuja] stadium is brand new, » the spokesman said.
Although Nigeria lead the overall medals table with 72 golds, fans consider they have lost the Games because of the country’s failure to win the men’s football event.
« The bitterness was absolute last night, » said one man who attended the match.
Nigeria’s loss to Cameroon is the second time in three years that they have lost an African final on home soil.
The Indomitable Lions won their third Nations Cup title in 2000 by beating the Super Eagles on penalties in Lagos.
