Narrative
Article reserved for subscribers
In N'zérékoré, the final of the tournament sponsored by the head of state, General Mamadi Doumbouya, degenerated after a disputed penalty. The police used tear gas, causing a crowd to move towards the only exit from the stadium. Dozens of spectators, including many children, were reportedly crushed or suffocated.
The 3-Avril stadium in N'zérékoré turned into a trap, Sunday, December 1, for the thousands of supporters who came to watch the final of the “General Mamadi Doumbouya” tournament – named after the head of state, who sponsors the national competition. Dozens of Guineans died in the chaos following the football match. On Monday, the authorities reported a toll “provisional” of 56 victims. This could become even heavier. “The demonstrations of dissatisfaction with the refereeing decisions led to stone throwing by supporters, causing fatal stampedes,” the government succinctly indicated in a press release published on national television. The Guinean president announced the establishment of a “commission of inquiry to rule on the causes of this tragedy and determine responsibilities”.
The match pitted the team from N'zérékoré (south-east) against that from Labé (north), in a heated atmosphere, as is often the case in Guinea. The Minister of Youth and Sports, Kéamou Bogola Haba, and that of Agriculture, Félix Lamah, attended the meeting. During the second half, the referee, under pressure, withdrew a red card (the second of the match) a few minutes after sanctioning a Labé player. The spectators, furious, saw
