Arsenal player among six Premier League stars seeks shelter in dressing room as Ghanaian fans riot

Several bottles were tossed onto the pitch after the gameCredit: @TheGhanaWeb

Six Premier League players had to seek refuge in the dressing room after Ghanaian fans stormed the pitch and threw objects onto the field during a recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match. Ghana lost 1-0 to Angola, with Felicio Milson's stoppage-time goal proving decisive. The defeat triggered outrage among fans at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

Ghana fans were fuming after a 1-0 defeat to AngolaCredit: @TheGhanaWeb on X

Some fans rushed onto the field, while others threw bottles and various objects, creating chaos. The crowd's actions led to extensive damage, prompting security to quickly escort players to safety. Among those who were protected were Arsenal's Thomas Partey, West Ham's Mohammed Kudus, Brighton's Tariq Lamptey, Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo, and Leicester City's Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu.

Reports also indicate that Jordan Ayew faced a pitch invader during the match, necessitating intervention from stewards. The Ghana National Sports Authority has since announced a one-month closure of the stadium for repairs.

The Confederation of African Football is expected to impose a fine on the Ghana Football Association (FA) due to the incident. This is not the first instance of post-match trouble for the Ghana FA; in January, they were fined £11,350 after fans confronted former coach Chris Hughton following a defeat to Cape Verde. Additionally, in 2019, the FA faced a £7,614 fine for a pitch invasion during an AFCON qualifier against South Africa.