A major crowd movement broke out near the Yaoundé stadium, causing at least six deaths and around 40 injuries.
The evening turned tragic in Yaoundé. While Cameroon painfully eliminated Comoros in the round of 16 of CAN 2022 in an incredible match (2-1), a crowd movement near the stadium led to the death of at least six people, according to information from the Associated Press (AP)qui quotes the governor of the central region of Cameroon, Naseri Paul Biya. At least 40 people were injured. “Some are seriously injured”told AP Olinga Prudence, a nurse at the hospital Mesassiwhere the wounded were brought. “We will have to evacuate them to a specialized hospital.”
The incident broke out at the gates of the stadium as the crowd struggled to enter the 60,000-seat enclosure, which was 80% full due to Covid-19. However, more than 50,000 people would have tried to enter.
Faced with the scale of the incident, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) quickly communicated without confirming the number of dead, but claiming to conduct an investigation: “CAF became aware of the incident that occurred on Monday evening January 24, 2022 at the Stade d’Olembé (…). We are in constant communication with the Cameroonian government and the local organizing committee. On the directives of the President of CAF, Dr Patrice Motsepe, the Secretary General, Veron Mosengo-Omba visited the supporters at the hospital in Yaoundé.“
Statement on the incidents at the Olembe stadium https://t.co/AGy68zbo6p
— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) January 24, 2022
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