The Amputee African Cup of Nations final between Ghana and Morocco ended in chaos as players used their crutches as weapons in a shocking post-match brawl.
The violence erupted moments after the final whistle, following Ghana’s victory over Morocco. A disagreement between two players quickly escalated, drawing in several others. Players and staff alike were seen using their crutches to strike opponents, while tournament organizers focused on setting up the staging for the trophy presentation.
The exact cause of the altercation remains unclear, but tensions appeared to subside by the end of the celebrations. Ghana’s coach, Stephen Richard Obeng, expressed pride in his team’s achievement, stating, “The God we trusted made it happen. We’re champions in Africa for the third time in two years. Despite the challenges, we did it.”
Ghana’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, congratulated the team on Twitter, praising their determination and skill for defending their title.
The match itself was a dramatic affair. Ghana fell behind early to Morocco but equalized through a penalty by Mohammed Mubarak, who later scored again in extra time to secure the title. This victory not only allowed Ghana to retain their championship but also earned them a spot in the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup in Panama.
Ghana’s journey to the final was impressive. They won all three group stage matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding just one. Their dominance continued in the knockout stages with a 4-1 quarter-final win over Tanzania and a 3-0 semi-final victory against Algeria.
In the tournament’s third-place playoff, Algeria defeated Nigeria 3-1, with goals from Raouf Ouchene, Lotfi Belkaid, and Aboubakr Zaidi, after Nigeria initially led through an own goal by Yusuf Isa.
