AFCON Stampede: Quarter-final moved to another stadium after deadly crush

An Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final has been switched from the Olembe Stadium to another one in Yaounde after eight people were killed in a deadly crush prior to Monday’s match.

At least eight people died and 38 injured in a crush ahead of the last-16 game between Cameroon and Comoros at Olembe Stadium. The venue in Yaounde has a capacity of 60,000 but was only supposed to be 80 per cent full due to Covid restrictions; 50,000 fans tried to attend the match, officials say.

Olembe Stadium was meant to host the last-eight tie between the winners of Ivory Coast vs Egypt and Morocco vs Malawi but, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe called for an immediate investigation.

He said: “We have to make sure the safety of every single spectator is our primary concern. There is zero tolerance on circumstances that could result in people being injured at the stadium or losing their lives.

“We have to take emergency and urgent steps now, so I have called a meeting tomorrow and I’ve also sought the guidance and advice of my vice-presidents. I need a report on what happened, the circumstances that led to people being injured and emergency measures to make sure that doesn’t happen again. We have to take collective responsibility.

“There must be a committee set up to immediately investigate what happened and find out who did not perform their responsibilities. We want that report by Friday.

“The game that is scheduled for Olembe Stadium on Sunday is not going to take place. It’s going to take place at Ahmadou Ahidjo.”