Ivory Coast's qualification for Africa Cup of Nations is met with violent scenes and baton-wielding police

Pitch invasion at final whistle sparks riot police's reaction as home fans celebrate by pulling crossbar down – and trying to steal Gervinho's shorts

Unfair tackle: Gervinho is wrestled to the ground by fans trying to take his shorts Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Violent scenes greeted Ivory Coast's qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday evening as helmeted riot police wielding batons were pictured beating fans who greeted their side's success with a pitch invasion

As fans entered the pitch on the final whistle of Ivory Coast's 0-0 draw with Cameroon in Abidjan, several were clearly carried away – the former Arsenal striker Gervinho was wrestled to the ground by one supporter who appeared to be attempting to steal his shorts.

While that was occurring, at the end of the pitch a group of fans' celebrations resulted in them pulling down the crossbar.

^{Armed response: A policeman strikes a fan with his baton in Abidjan}

Ivory Coast were assured of their qualification for the tournament in Equatorial Guinea which starts in January by scraping the goalless draw, and their cause was helped by Cameroon's Stephane Mbia being sent off for fouling Gervinho. Yaya Touré came closest to breaking the deadlock for the hosts.

Nigeria, the defending champions, will not be at the finals. Needing a win to qualify, they fell 2-0 behind to the South Africans in Uyo after a double from Tokelo Rantie in six minutes either side of half-time. Nigeria scored two late goals to claim a frantic draw in front of a desperate home crowd, but Republic of Congo's 1-0 win in Sudan in Group A's other game saw it spring the big surprise in qualifying and take the second automatic place behind the South Africans.

^{Crossing the line: Celebrating Ivory Coast fans hang off the crossbar}
New Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick said his federation "takes full responsibility for what has happened."

The full 16-team line-up for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations is now decided ahead of the draw on Dec 3. Equatorial Guinea was chosen as the replacement host after Morocco was stripped of the honour of staging the finals due to its concerns over the Ebola epidemic.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/ivory-coast/11242406/Ivory-Coasts-qualification-for-Africa-Cup-of-Nations-is-met-with-violent-scenes-and-baton-wielding-police.html