 Solution

A useful closed-cover version of the Seifert-van Kampen theorem is the following. Let $X=A\cup B$ with $A,B,A\cap B$ path-connected closed subspaces and basepoint in their intersection. Assume there are open neighbourhoods $U,V$ covering $X$ that deformation retract onto $A,B$, while $U\cap V$ deformation retracts onto $A\cap B$, with the induced inclusions compatible up to based homotopy. ThenThe neighbourhood hypothesis, available for the present finite subcomplex gluing, matters: arbitrary closed covers need not satisfy this theorem.

A Möbius band retracts onto its core circle, with generator $m$; its boundary represents $m^2$. The torus has generators $u,v$ and relation $[u,v]=1$. The attaching circle is the $u$ circle. Reversing the attaching homeomorphism merely replaces $u$ by its inverse and changes no isomorphism type. The closed-cover theorem givesMapping $m\mapsto 0$, $v\mapsto 1$ surjects onto $\mathbb{Z}$, so the group is infinite. Imposing the extra relation $m^2=1$ gives the quotient $C_2\ast \mathbb{Z}$, a nonabelian free product, since alternating reduced words $mv$ and $vm$ differ. A quotient of an abelian group would be abelian, so the fundamental group is nonabelian.