…As irate fans attack match officials
Host Edo State yesterday did the double over Team Lagos to win gold medals in the male and female football event at the ongoing 2020 National Sports Festival in Benin.
In the opening match of the day, Team Edo defeated hard fighting Lagos girls by a lone goal.
However, the match ended in a free for all as irate fans attacked the match officials.
The beautiful game turned ugly as aggrieved Lagos fans felt cheated when the fourth official indicated only an additional minute after full time.
The Lagos fans felt they should have been given more minutes as medical personnel of Team Edo had spent about 10 minutes attending to their injured goalkeeper.
Consequently, as soon as the referees whistle went for the full time, an argument ensued among the players with officials of both teams also involved in a heated argument.
When they sensed danger, security personnel stepped in to quell the looming fight but events took a different turn when a policeman slapped a fan from Lagos who was considered the mastermind of the chaos.
This led to a free for all as some fans were seen wielding dangerous weapons including knives.
The situation was however brought under control by the security on ground.
In the men’s final, Edo continued from where they stopped in the female event as the team led by the state Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu came from two goals down to beat Lagos 3-2.
The winning goal was scored by Solomon Osagie in the 76th minute from the penalty spot.
And in basketball, Team Gombe defeated Lagos by 57-49 to win the gold men’s event while Lagos girls edged Bayelsa 47-38 to win the gold in the women’s finals.
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