The Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final match due to be played at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde on Sunday will be switched to another venue after Monday’s deadly crush, African football supremo Patrice Motsepe revealed and called for an investigation into the tragedy.
“The game that is scheduled for Olembe Stadium on Sunday…is going to take place at Ahmadou Ahidjo” stadium, also in Yaounde, said Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Motsepe at a press conference.
“There must be a committee set up to investigate what happened and to find out who was supposed to do what. We want that report by Friday,” the South African added, saying there would be “zero tolerance on circumstances which could result in people being injured or losing their lives”.
President Paul Biya has ordered an investigation into the crush, “so that all light is shed on this tragic incident,” Cameroon’s communications minister said.
Although crowds at the 60,000-seat stadium had been limited to 60 percent of capacity for the tournament because of the coronavirus pandemic, the cap is raised to 80 percent when Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions play.
“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.
Communications Minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi said 38 people were injured, including seven seriously.
A baby was reportedly trampled by the crowd, the ministry added. The infant was “immediately extracted and taken to Yaounde General Hospital” and was in a “medically stable” condition, it added.
The tragedy happened at gates where final ticket checks are supposed to take place.
“It was when the police opened the gates that people fell and others trampled on top of them,” said Professor Andre Omgbwa Eballe, director of the Olembe district hospital who attended the match.
“I saw the bravery of the Cameroonian people. People were resuscitating others, doing mouth to mouth, otherwise there would have been more deaths,” he told AFP TV.
