Lorenzo Pastuglia
January 25, 2022
The party of Cameroon-Comoros of the African Cup of Nations, it turned into a drama. A game of other times, which ended in a tragic ending. First the problems in the field of the national team Younes Zerdouk, who arrived late at the stadium and had to have a full-back play in goal (with adhesive tape to change the number) because her three goalkeepers were among the 12 positive at Covid (except Ali Ahamada, who returned negative in the last hours but unable to play for the latest directives). And despite some of his decisive saves (especially by foot), the expulsion after seven minutes of central Nadjim Abdou further complicated the plans, and in the end Cameroon found the 2-1 victory with goals from Ekambi and Aboubakar, tearing the pass to the quarter-finals. The photo in which the makeshift goalkeeper “forgets” he can use his hands is viral, the one you can see below.
The drama outside the stadium
But the drama came out of the stadium: eight people, including a six-year-old and a 14-year-old boy, would be were killed during a stampede towards the entrance gates of the Olembe stadium in the capital Yaoundé. The tragedy was caused by the multitude of people without tickets who, since hours before the kick-off, crowded in an attempt to force entry. Governor Naseri Paul Bea told The Associated Press that the casualties could be even more than current estimates, but it will take time to determine. Also because dozens and dozens of people are injured, about 38 according to initial estimates. Of these, seven would be in very serious conditions.
The press release from Caf
Thus we read in the official statement of Caf, the football confederation of Africa: “We are aware of the incident that took place at the Olembe Stadium and the situation is currently being investigated, trying to obtain more details on what happened. We are in constant communication – it is written in the note – with the government of Cameroon and the local organizing committee. The president of Caf, Patrice Motsepe, sent the general secretary, Veron Mosengo-Omba, to visit the fans hospitalized in the Yaoundé hospital ”. Local officials spoke of 50,000 people who would try to attend the match.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
