YAOUNDÉ (Reuters) – At least eight supporters died and 38 people were injured on Monday in a crowd movement at the Olembé stadium in the Cameroonian capital Yaoundé, ahead of Cameroon’s meeting with the Comoros in the Cup. d’Afrique des Nations (CAN), the government announced in a press release.
Footage shared on social media, which Reuters could not immediately authenticate, shows screaming supporters crushed outside a front door.
The tournament organizing body said in a press release that it had been informed of an incident and had opened an investigation to “try to obtain more details” on what happened.
“We are in constant communication with the Cameroonian government and the local organizing committee,” she said.
Faced with the low number of spectators during the first round of the tournament, the Cameroonian authorities set up dedicated transport and massively distributed free tickets to fill the stadiums, which were built especially for the AFCON.
(Report Josiane Kouagheu; written by Bate Felix, French version Jean Terzian and Laetitia Volga, edited by Blandine Hénault)
click here for restrictions
©2022 Reuters
