Guinea Starts Three Days of Mourning for Victims of Stampede During Football Match
According to reports, 56 people died during the fatal stampede at a football match, but many in the country believe the number is closer to around 100.
Today, Guinea begins a three-day mourning period for thevictims of a stampede during a local football match in Nzérékoré, the country’s second-largest city. The death toll is yet to be confirmed and ranges from reports that 56 people died during the fatal event, to as many as 100.
The incident was triggered by the referee’s decision to issue red cards to two players from the visiting team, effectively sending them off and reducing the visiting team to nine players. The referee also awarded a controversial penalty kick to the home team. In response, visiting fans invaded the pitch, leading to uncontrolled chaos.
The thousands of fans in the stadium then tried to exit the stadium to safety; however, the stadium had only one gate, and some had to resort to climbing the fences. The ensuing stampede led to the deaths and injuries.
The football match was the final tournament held in honor of Guinea’s junta leader, Col. Mamady Doumbouya. Opposition groups have said the tournament was held todrum up popularity and support for Doumbouya, who’s been in power since 2021 when he led a coup to oust Alpha Conde.
Earlier this year, Doumbouya dissolved the country’s interim administration,jeopardizing plans for a return to democracy at the end of this year. While he seemed more liberal than other West African junta leaders and willing to hand power back to the people, Doumbouya has been accused of holding on to power tightly. Pro-democracy protests have beenmet with deadly force on several occasions.
Junta critics’ accusations of sports washing come amidcontinued calls for democratic elections to be held soon. Opposition groups say the football competition allows Doumbouya to endear himself to Guineans while he attempts to become a democratically elected president.
Doumbouya issued a statement offering his condolences to the families of victims and survivors, adding that “an investigative commission will be set up to determine the causes of this tragedy.” In a statement on local television by the communications minister Fana Soumah, the governmentblamed the citizens who attended the game, describing the stampede as a result of “demonstrations of dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions.”
Guinea’s national team doesn’t play home games in Guinea because of a ban by the Confederation of African Football due to a lack of proper infrastructure. This stampede reinforces the need to improve sports structures, as the April 3 Stadium in Nzérékoré is one of the more popular football stadiums in the country. It’s also a reminder of the steps African football needs to take when it comes tosportsmanship.
CAF President Patrice Motsepesent his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished speedy recovery to those injured.
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