Sunday 18 January 2015 19:24, UK
There have been chaotic scenes before the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, writes Sky Sports News HQ's Geraint Hughes....
Police and security forces struggled to cope with home fans desperate to try and get inside the perimeter of the Estadio de Bata for the Group A opener between the hosts and Congo.
Although the crowd was peaceful, the process of checking tickets and allowing fans through gates could not cope with the sheer numbers of people trying to get inside an outer perimeter area about 400 metres from the stadium itself.
It appeared at times, as crowds pushed through, that there were people being crushed although the SSN HQ crew witnessed no serious injuries.
Police refrained from using tear gas to disperse crowds, instead opting to let off smoke canisters, throw water or squirt fire extinguishers. It had little effect.
The Estadio de Bata holds 34,000 people and with five African Heads of State in attendance at the opening matches in Group A, security was a high priority with large numbers of police and military personnel visible.
However, there has been huge excitement at the prospect of an inexperienced Equatorial Guinea side playing at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Many people chose to come to the stadium to lend their support for the opener against Congo, rather than watch the game on TV.
One commander on the ground told me in Spanish that this was expected and is normal and that by the time everyone leaves it will be 'okay'.
Nevertheless, thousands of fans without tickets did get inside the outer perimeter of the stadium.
