Official sources confirm the death of several people following a crowd near one of the gates of the Olembe stadium in Yaounde, where the match valid for the round of 16 was being played
Drama in Cameroon-Comoros from Africa Cup of Nations. According to the reconstructions coming from the local media several people died in a crowd outside Yaounde’s Olembe stadium, where the match valid for the round of 16 was in progress, won 2-1 by the hosts. Naseri Paul Biya, governor of the central region of Cameroon, confirmed ad Associated Press that there are at least 6 victims, but others could add to the tragic count. The African confederation confirmed the incident and made it known that an investigation into the incident is underway.
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Official sources from local hospitals say they also welcomed dozens of injured, we are talking about at least 40 people. “Some of the injured are in desperate condition,” said Olinga Prudence, a nurse, ad AP. “We will have to take them to a specialized hospital”. According to some witnesses, the accident was triggered by an attempt to access the stadium by forcing the entrance gates. About 50,000 fans would try to watch the match. The stadium has a capacity of 60,000 people, but the capacity was limited to 80% due to restrictions related to the pandemic.
LA CAF: IN KNOWLEDGE OF THE ACCIDENT, WE INVESTIGATE
Official statement of the African confederation: “The CAF (Confédération Africaine de Football) is aware of the incident that took place at the Olembe Stadium during the match of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations between the hosts of Cameroon and the Comoros tonight, January 24, 2022. The CAF is currently investigating the situation and is trying to get more details on what happened. We are in constant communication with the Cameroon government and the Local Organizing Committee. Tonight, the president of the CAF, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, sent the general secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba, to visit the supporters hospitalized in the Yaoundé hospital “.
THE MATCH
The “Blue Sharks” of the Comoros, revelation of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, were eliminated from the tournament, defeated 2-1 in the round of 16 by the hosts of Cameroon. The island national team, decimated by Covid, was forced to take the field with a full-back instead of the goalkeeper and to play almost the entire match in ten for the expulsion of the captain, the central Abdou, after just 7 ‘. The “Indomitable Lions” are therefore in the quarterfinals, where they will face another terrible rookie, the Gambia, who defeated Guinea 1-0 with a goal from Bologna striker Musa Barrow. The Comoros took the field with left-back Alhadhur in goal, after two of their three goalkeepers had been sidelined due to Covid-19 (the other was out due to injury). The African Confederation has not granted an exemption for the goalkeeper Ahamada, who had returned negative today, forcing him to respect the five days of isolation provided. Alhadhur, with his jersey number made with adhesive tape, was unable to avoid the two goals, scored by Toko-Ekambi and Aboubakar, top scorer of the tournament with six goals, but the Comoros did not let themselves be overwhelmed. Indeed, shortening the distance in the final with M’Changama, they kept the opponents on the rope until the final whistle.
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