The southern entrance “was temporarily closed by the police in the face of the surge of spectators while other doors were operational” at the large Olembé stadium in the Cameroonian capital, assured Narcisse Mouelle Kombi to the press.
But, “faced with the pressure, and overwhelmed by this human tide, the security elements proceeded in a reckless manner to open the gate of the southern entrance, causing a great scramble” which resulted in the “tragic death of eight people, including a child and two women, he continued.
The minister also acknowledged that the number of members of the security forces was “insufficient”. But he also blamed the holders of counterfeit and used tickets and the supporters who wanted to enter without a ticket, to justify this influx in front of the South door.
“Who closed this door? »
In the aftermath of the tragedy, which also left 38 injured, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAN) Patrice Motsepe announced the move of the quarter-final scheduled for Sunday from the Olembé stadium to the second stadium in the capital, Ahmadou Ahidjo .
He also announced that CAF would not allow other matches to be played there if the Cameroonian authorities did not present him with an investigation report before Friday.
Patrice Motsepe had already indicated on Tuesday that the jostling was linked to the closing of one of the stadium’s access gates. He had deemed this decision “inexplicable”. “If that door had been opened the way it should have been, we wouldn’t have had the problem we have now, these loss of life. Who closed this door? Who is responsible for this door? “, he had hammered in front of the press.