The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinal match due to be held at the Paul Biya, Olembe Stadium on Sunday has been moved after a fatal crush outside the ground on Monday.
At least eight people were killed and 40 injured as fans struggled to get access to a match between hosts Cameroon and Comoros in Yaounde.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe alongside Cameroon Health Minister Dr Manaouda Malachie visited injured supporters in hospitals,as CAF promise to investigate the incident.
According to reports, two children, aged 8 and 14, were among the dead, and seven people were seriously injured in the crush.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) and world governing body FIFA have sent condolences to the families that lost their loved ones and wish the hospitalized victims speedy recovery.
Motsepe said CAF must take responsibility for the crush along with the local organising committee and the Cameroonian government.
“We have a duty to find out exactly what happened and more importantly to put in preventative measures to ensure that what happened never happens again.”
The newly constructed Olembe Stadium has a capacity of 60,000 but was not meant to accept more than 80% spectators because of COVID-19 restrictions.
However, match officials were quoted as saying that as many as 50,000 people were trying to attend Monday’s match.
“There were deficiencies, weaknesses, failures, things that should have been foreseen. When people lose their lives you must be angry and demand explanations and guarantees that it will never happen again,” Motsepe added.
Sunday’s quarter-final is now set to be played at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde and players will pay a minute silence in memory of the victims in all the remaining matches of the AFCON.
MOLATsportgist 