The football world has gathered in mourning over the death of at least eight fans and 38 injured at the Yaounde Olembe Stadium in Cameroon on Monday before the host nation's round of 16 match in the Africa Cup of Nations, the government said in a statement.
Images shared on social media, showed screaming fans being crushed at an entrance gate before the game against Comoros.
According to eyewitness reports, people were “trampled” upon as fans forced their way into the stadium.
“Eight deaths were recorded, two women in their 30s, four men in their 30s, one child, one body taken away by the family,” said a preliminary health ministry report obtained by AFP on Tuesday.
Communications Minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi said that 38 people were injured in the crush, including seven seriously, according to a statement.
Children are also believed to be among those involved in the tragedy with others adding that the struggle began when stewards closed the gates and stopped allowing people into the stadium.
Some 50,000 people had attempted to attend the match at the 60,000 capacity stadium. However, due to Covid restrictions only 80 per cent of fans were allowed in.
Hosts Cameroon eventually went through to the quarter finals of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations following an eventful 2-1 victory over Comoros.
