African Nations Cup qualifier in Dakar abandoned due to crowd disturbances

Ivory Coast were leading 2-0 on the night and 6-2 on aggregate — a result which seems likely to stand, sending Senegal out — when the match was stopped in the 72nd minute at the Stade Leopold Senghor.

Play had been temporarily halted just after the hour when a person ran on to the pitch and almost reached Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba before being wrestled to the ground and escorted off the field.

Drogba had given his side the lead in the 51st minute with a free-kick and the former Chelsea man then made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the 70th minute.

Following that second goal small fires were set in the stands and objects were thrown as players and staff from both teams grouped together in the centre circle.

Premier League-based players involved in the match including Newcastle pair Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse lining up for Senegal along with West Ham’s Mohamed Diame, while in Ivory Coast’s starting line-up were Arsenal striker Gervinho, Manchester City brothers Yaya and Kolo Toure and Newcastle’s Cheick Tiote.