The Guinean government on Monday has revealed that at least 56 people have died in a crush following clashes at a football match in the nation’s second-largest city, Nzerekore, Afrosport reports.
According to reports, a controversial refereeing decision ignited the violence during the final of a tournament played in honour of Guinea’s military leader Mamady Doumbouya, who seized power in a September 2021 coup.
The Guinean government has promised an investigation into the matter, adding that some fans were seen throwing stones, which sparked the panic and stampede.
Oury Bah, Guinea’s Prime Minister, called the events “tragic” and offered his condolences to the affected families.
Le gouvernement déplore les incidents qui ont émaillé le match de football entre les équipes de Labe et Nzerekore cet après-midi à Nzerekore . Lors de la bousculade des victimes sont enregistrées. Les autorités régionales sont à pied d’œuvre pour rétablir le calme et la sérénité…
— Bah Oury (@bahourykigna) December 1, 2024
Videos and images on social media appear to show chaotic scenes outside the stadium, with large crowds attempting to climb over walls and numerous bodies on the ground.
Afrosport, however, has been unable to verify the authenticity of the shared videos, which showed some children lying on the ground unresponsive.
