Home fans basking in glory of their team’s controversial victory over fancied Tunisia

What you need to know:

  • Traders must have still been counting their huge profits from a night of brisk business that included meals and accommodation offered at higher than normal rates.
  • Not even the slight drizzle moments after the final whistle at 10pm local time could dampen the spirits of these fans, some bare chested and other spotting red and white national jerseys.
  • The handful of the Tunisian fans, whose team took the lead through Ahmed Akaichi late in the second half, were a dejected lot and had to only watch the unfolding spectacle from a distance.

Most of the streets in Bata remained deserted last morning, with a majority of residents here remaining indoors to nurse hangovers following a thrilling Saturday night that began with anticipation, and ended in tears of joy, celebration and partying.

This followed a historic 2-1 win by the host nation over Tunisia in the quarter finals of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, a result that secured a first ever semi final berth at the tournament for the tiny Central Africa nation.

Most shops were yet to open for business by 10am on Sunday, while the city cleaners were staring at an unusually busier day in office, as beer cans and bottles, match tickets and other litter strewn all over the streets as far as 4pm from the Estadio de Bata where the match took place.

Traders must have still been counting their huge profits from a night of brisk business that included meals and accommodation offered at higher than normal rates. Thousands of visitors, some from as far as Malabo, Tunisia, Kinshasa and Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, had flown to Bata ahead of the match.

The scenes that unfolded later in the city by far surpassed those witnessed after previous matches involving the Nzaleng Nacional.

Public transport

This outcome was perhaps made sweeter considering both the pedigree of the opponent and the emotions the fans had to go through the two hours of play.

With most of the roads leading to the venue closed, the thousands of jubilant fans coming from the Stadium didn’t mind trekking for more than two kilometres before accessing public transport back to their respective homes.

Not even the slight drizzle moments after the final whistle at 10pm local time could dampen the spirits of these fans, some bare chested and other spotting red and white national jerseys. The celebratory mood was heightened by the fervent songs in vernacular in praise of the team and the Government.

Others sat on roof top and bonnets of speeding vehicles that played loud music.“This significant win in the country’s football history confirms we are now a big team in Africa,” said.

Most of the fans, as has been the case all through, ended up in entertainment joints in town to celebrate the result. “We did it through hard work and self confidence. It was important not to let our spirit tire even when our legs were giving way,” Equatorial Guinea coach Esteban Becker explained at the team’s press conference thereafter.

The handful of the Tunisian fans, whose team took the lead through Ahmed Akaichi late in the second half, were a dejected lot and had to only watch the unfolding spectacle from a distance.

The host team will now move to Malabo for the first semi final match against either Ghana or Guinea on Thursday.