Wild celebrations turn tragic for home fans

There were wild celebrations nationwide and sadly, four deaths last Sunday, as hosts, Equatorial Guinea, marked their qualification to the quarter-finals for this year's African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The national team, nicknamed, the National Thunder, stunned Group A favourites, Gabon 2-0 to ease their way into the next round, a result that excited their teeming fans and also, no doubt, satisfactory to organisers, considering what their exit would have done to attendance at the tournament.

After picking only two points from their first two games, the Equatorial Guineans had to win at all cost to stay on, but against their close neighbours, Gabon, who they co-hosted the 2012 event with, it was not going to be that easy.

However, against all odds, the National Thunder did not only survive, but ensured that the Azingo Nationale of Gabon, rather exited the competition as Congo also beat Burkjna Faso 2-1 to finish as Group A leaders.

Moments after the final whistle, it was not just the bench that began their wild, uncontrollable celebrations, but it was a feeling that resonated all over the country, with both young and old, most of them wearing their national replica jerseys, pouring out onto the streets to jubilate. 

In the process, four children between the ages of eight and 12 years, lost their lives as they were run down by careless taxi drivers, who were also caught in the frenzy.

The incidents, two in Malabo where young cousins, aged 10 and 12, came out to join in the celebration in their neighbourhood, were both knocked down and killed instantly by a teenager taxi driver who apparently was drunk.

There was another incident in Bata, where the driver also lost control and run into the 11-year old who was in front of his mother's bar watching the action.

It was even sadder in Mongomo, where the eight-year-old boy, dashed out of the house and wIthout watching, tried to cross to join the fun on the other side of the road, but was knocked down and killed instantly by a taxi driver who was speeding and blurring his horn as his way of celebrating.

Though these tragedies might have been unfortunate, they did little to dampen the entire nation's spirit as they commended the players for their bravery and determination.

The celebrations were understandable, considering the fact that the hosts almost did not make it to this 30th edition as they were disqualified for fielding an unqualified player during the qualifiers and were only handed a lifeline when they stepped in as hosts following Morocco's withdrawal at a very late time.

They hardly had time to prepare, compared to the teams who played in the qualifiers but, in true fighting spirit, the proved capable on then night when their character was put to the test, securing their second quarter-finals berth only on their third attempt.

For Gabon, who also reached the quarter-finals as co-hosts in 2012, it was a sad end to their campaign, given that they had started on a bright note, beating the 2013 runners-up 2-0 on the opening day, but must have been undone by their 0-1 loss to Congo in their second match.