Guinea Football Stampede: Over 100 Dead in Stadium Tragedy

Over 100 Dead in Guinea as Football Fan Frenzy Turns Deadly

Nserekor, Guinea – A joyous football celebration turned into a scene of utter devastation in Guinea’s second-largest city, Nserokor, on Sunday. More than 100 people have been reported dead after a stampede erupted during a match.

The city, 570 km from the capital Conakry, was consumed by a football frenzy that tragically spiraled out of control. According to reports from the ground, a controversial referee decision ignited the chaos.

“The views from the hospital are incredibly difficult. Bodies are piled up everywhere. The dead are laid out in rows, even on the veranda of the hospital. The morgue is overflowing," a doctor at the overwhelmed local hospital told AFP.

Chilling footage circulating on social media shows the horrifying frenzy – people clashing in the streets, desperate individuals trying to flee for safety, and scenes of utter pandemonium outside the stadium.

Reports indicate that enraged fans stormed the field after the contentious referee call, leading to a surge of panic and the deadly stampede. Enraged protesters also reportedly attacked and set fire to the Nserokor police station, further escalating the violence.

"The bodies are lined up as far as the eye can see…" a tweeted lament read, accompanied by heart-wrenching images from after the tragedy.

The tournament, held in honor of Colonel Mamadi Dumboya, who seized power in a 2021 coup, was intended to be a celebration.

Dumboya, who took power by ousting democratically elected President Alfa Conte, has been ruling Guinea since the military takeover.

This devastating incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of unchecked fervor and the potential for tragedy when sportsmanship gives way to violence.