One person has died following a crush at a stadium in Madagascar ahead of the national team’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Senegal yesterday (Sunday).
The crush at Antananarivo’s Mahamasina Municipal Stadium occurred before the match, which still went ahead and finished 2-2.
According to the Associated Press news agency, at least 37 people were also injured during the stampede. The stadium has a capacity of about 22,000.
Thousands of local fans reportedly queued for hours ahead of the match against Senegal, whose team includes Liverpool star Sadio Mane and other high-profile names.
The Associated Press, citing French radio service RFI, said that the stampede occurred at an entrance to one of the stadium sections. Police official Commander Herilalatiana Andrianarisaona said, according to RFI: “The front people could not go back and other people were still coming in numbers behind. That’s what caused this.”
The Confederation of African Football (CAF), whose president, Ahmad, is from Madagascar, has not yet commented on the disaster.
Image: Lemurbaby
Share this