Congo Brazzaville football fans had a lucky escape as their bus burst into flames on the way home from a Africa Nations Championship game.

The coach was reduced to a smoking shell in just 40 minutes after it caught fire at Ba Tetela near Gombe on Sunday.

More than 60 Red Devils supporters – including one in a wheelchair and a number of women and children – fled from the burning bus as they headed home after watching the team qualify for CHAN finals after holding host DR Congo in a one all draw.

“It was terrifying.I do not know how we all got out of there alive,” said Antonie Bachuli.

The fans were on their way back to Brazzaville when the vehicle caught fire on the busy highway in Gombe.

All the fans managed to get off the coach, shaken but unhurt, before firefighters arrived.

“Our driver was contacted by the bus behind to say the exhaust was catching fire,” said Mr Kabuya , aged 50.

“As we pulled over, thick black smoke was coming into the bus. It was very frightening.”

The two drivers tried to put the fire out with fire extinguishers and just minutes later three fire engines were on the scene.

It took firefighters around 20 minutes to battle the fire.

The stranded supporters were transferred safely to another coach, which eventually took them to their destination.