Claim: Black Stars team bus vandalised
Source: Viral video
Verdict: MISLEADING
Researched by Gifty Tracy Aminu
A viral video clip showing a vandalised bus is being portrayed online as the Black Stars team bus attacked by Ghanaian supporters after a poor showing in their final group game at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.
The short video clip has been shared on multiple social media platforms including Facebook and X/Twitter, and by accounts run by credible media organisations like Okay FM. Some news websites have also published articles on the same subject ( here, here and here).
RelatedNews
A screenshot of the Facebook post by Okay FM
A screengrab of the video clip shared on Twitter
A screenshot of the viral video that was shared on TikTok and cross-published on Facebook
Background
Ghana’s campaign in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations is dominating conversations on social media after the team only managed to secure 2 points from their 3 group matches.
Despite needing a win to qualify out of the group stages, the Black Stars managed to throw away a 2 goal lead to draw in their final group game with Mozambique, which has drawn lots of condemnation from fans and a section of the Ghanaian media covering the tournament.
Fact-Check
A cursory assessment of the viral video showed the vandalised bus was red while the Black Stars team bus had multiple colours including orange and green.
Blackstars team bus (L)/ Vandalised bus (R)
Subsequent checks by GhanaFact from 3 Ghanaian journalists covering the tournament revealed the vandalised bus seen in the viral video was not the Black Stars team bus as being portrayed on social media.
“The bus making the rounds is not the Black Stars bus. They are very safe. The one making the rounds belongs to the supporters,” a sports journalist with Accra-based Citi FM, Benjamin Nketia said.
According to freelance journalist, Ibrahim Zibrilla: “When the Ivorian team finished playing their game, by that time, the Ghanaian fans had also arrived [at the same stadium] to watch the Ghana game. So they parked their buses outside the stadium. But the Ivorian fans were not happy with the performance of their team and they started destroying anything in sight outside. So it was through that the Ghanaian fans’ bus was destroyed by the Ivoirian fans.”
This was confirmed by another sports journalist, Saddick Adams when contacted: “The pictures of vandalized buses in circulation were done by Ivorian fans after their defeat to Eq Guinea.”
Verdict
The claim that the Black Stars team bus was vandalised is misleading.
