Bloody Sunday in Guinea. A football tournament turned into a tragedy and left at least dozens dead and many injured in the town of N’Zérékoré (South-east).
This Sunday should have been a day of celebration in N’Zérékoré, where the local team faced that of Labé in the final of the “refoundation” Trophy organized in honor of President Mamadi Doumbouya and with financial endowments. Tournaments of this type have spread to Guinea in recent months, meeting with great popular success, as shown in the images below from another match dating from last Tuesday.
Arbitration controversy and stone throwing
Except that, this Sunday, things did not go as planned. Indeed, a few minutes from the end of the match, while the two teams were tied, the referee whistled a penalty which led to strong protests among the players, but also in the stands. Some “supporters” began throwing stones to express their anger, and the police responded with tear gas, triggering deadly crowd movements towards the only exit from the stadium.
While the Ministers of Sports, Kéamou Bogola Haba, and of Agriculture, Felix Lamah, present on site, were evacuated, dozens of supporters lost their lives, probably victims of falls or stampedes, in the utter chaos.
We can see in several photos and videos circulating on social networks, several lifeless bodies lying on the ground. According to hospital sources cited by Afp, “several dozen” or even “a hundred” deaths are to be deplored.
“Bodies are lined up as far as the eye can see in the hospital. Others are lying on the floor in the corridors. The morgue is full,” explained a doctor on condition of anonymity. These would mainly be young adolescents. At the same time, according to the local press, hospitals are overwhelmed and are having difficulty caring for the many injured who reach them.
But regarding the macabre toll, according to a government press release, “there were 56 dead and several injured.” The government assures that investigations will be carried out to establish responsibilities linked to this unfortunate event.
The junta singled out
On social networks, this drama has sparked strong criticism of the government, which is behind these tournaments and which would not be capable of ensuring their security. “For several months, they have been organizing tournaments and demonstrations across the country to pass the difficult pill of his candidacy,” denounced journalist Abdoulaye Oumou Sow. A drama from which football will not emerge victorious…
Afrik-foot
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