A ‘stadium stampede’ is feared to have caused the death of up to 100 fans at a football match. Tragedy struck during the clash in Guinea, West Africa.
The carnage unfolded as Nzerekore hosted Labe, with footage from the city showing supporters trying to climb a fence in a bid to escape the destruction.
Mamadou Oury Bah, the Guinean Prime Minister, issued a statement condemning a ‘stampede’, which is said to have occurred during the game.
The Mirror reports the statement read: “The government deplores the incidents that marred the football match between the Labe and Nzerekore teams this afternoon in Nzerekore.
“During the stampede, victims were recorded. The regional authorities are working to restore calm and serenity among the population.
“The government is monitoring the development of the situation and reiterates its call for calm so that hospital services are not hindered in providing first aid to the injured.
“The moral authorities of the city are requested to also contribute to the restoration of social tranquility. The government will publish a press release when it has collected all the relevant information on these unfortunate incidents.”
According to Agence France-Presse, via the New York Times, dozens were feared dead, with one doctor estimating the figure as close to 100.
The agency cites a source claiming the trouble started after some fans invaded the pitch following a contentious refereeing call. Nzerekore and Labe are among the largest cities in Guinea, behind capital Conakry.
It is unclear how many people were in the stadium for the match, which reports suggest was part of a tournament honouring the country’s military leader Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power in 2021.
The National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy, a coalition of political parties, has called for an investigation. ESPN said the coalition claimed the tournament was to drum up support for the “illegal and inappropriate” political ambitions of Doumbouya.
It is not the first football-related tragedy in the West African country. Back in January, several people died amid celebrations after the national team’s Africa Cup of Nations victory over The Gambia.
At the time, Amadou Makadji, media manager for Feguifoot – the Guinean Football Federation – told BBC Sport Africa: “What is important is that our fans and the public celebrate in a very measured fashion.
“They have to be very careful to not put themselves in danger, because the goal of football is to bring joy and not leave families bereaved. We do not want deaths to mourn.
“So we call on everyone to celebrate but to take care of themselves so that nothing happens to them. Guinea is a country where people are very, very passionate about football and they experience football like nowhere else in the world.”
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