At least six people have reportedly died at the stadium and at least 40 are said to have been injured. Apparently more spectators tried to get into the arena than is allowed due to Corona.
Hosts Cameroon’s progress to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations has been overshadowed by the deaths of several people in a stampede before the soccer match. At least six people were killed, the AP news agency reported on Monday evening, citing regional governor Naseri Paul Biya. There could have been more deaths. “We are not able to give you the total number of victims,” he said. At least 40 people were injured.
The panic before the game against Comoros in the Stade d’Olembé in the capital Yaoundé is said to have been triggered because many people did not come to the stadium. According to witnesses, stewards closed the entrance gates to the stadium.
According to the information, significantly more people tried to watch the game than were allowed in the stadium. 60,000 visitors fit into the stadium, but due to the Corona requirements, only 48,000 or 80 percent of the seats were allowed to be filled. Cameroon’s game against Comoros (2-1) started at 20:00 CET; initially there was no information about incidents. Bundesliga professional Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting from FC Bayern Munich also represented Cameroon.
The African Football Association (CAF) said it was aware of the incident and was gathering more information. One is in exchange with the government of Cameroon and the local organizing committee. Secretary-General Veron Mosengo-Omba was sent to the hospital to visit the injured.
Cameroon is only hosting the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time since 1972. The country in the middle of the continent was supposed to host the tournament in 2019, but was withdrawn from the tournament because of concerns that the stadiums would not be suitable. At that time, Egypt hosted the African counterpart to the European Championship.