A crush outside a football stadium in Cameroon where the host nation qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals on Monday has left at least six people dead and injured, according to Cameroon state television.
Crowds tried to enter the Olembe Stadium in the capital Yaounde to watch Cameroon beat Comoros 2-1.
Although the stadium’s capacity has been limited to 60,000 over the coronavirus scare, the 60 percent limit is raised to 80 percent when Cameroon’s indomitable Lions play.
Tournament organizers had earlier confirmed to AFP that casualties had been recorded without providing further details.
The Confederation of African Football, which organises the continent’s flagship competition, said it was aware of the “incident”.
In a statement posted online CAF said it was “investigating the situation and trying to get more details on what transpired.”
The federation said it had sent its secretary general to “visit the supporters in hospital in Yaounde” and added that it was in “constant communication with Cameroon government and the Local Organizing Committee.”
A few minutes after the final whistle of the Cameroon vs Comoros match there was no trace of the stampede around the stadium, noted an AFP journalist.
