Seventy people were injured and clashes erupted outside a stadium in Luanda during a friendly football match between Angola and Argentina, an event intended to mark Angola’s 50th independence anniversary.
The Angolan Emergency Medical Institute reported that 70 individuals required medical assistance following Friday’s incident.
Of those injured, 23 suffered trauma, including being trampled or falling. These injuries occurred as crowds attempted to force entry into the 11 de Novembro stadium.
The stadium, located in Luanda, has a capacity of 50,000. The Angolan Football Federation had made 48,000 tickets available for the match.
Another 47 people needed medical attention for symptoms such as headaches and high blood pressure.
The event was also marked by confrontations between hundreds of fans and Angolan police outside the stadium. Clashes occurred before and during the game.
Police prevented some individuals from entering the venue. Reasons cited included lack of tickets, and prohibited items such as flip-flops, bags, and caps.
These measures provoked anger among fans, who then confronted police officers. The confrontations led to the closure of several stadium gates.
No arrests were reported in connection with the clashes. The match was part of Angola’s ongoing celebrations for its half-century of independence.