The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has expressed profound sorrow following a tragic stampede at the 3-Avril Stadium in N’Zérékoré, Guinea, which resulted in the loss of 56 lives and left dozens injured.
In a statement issued through the official CAF social media channels, CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe conveyed his deep sadness over the incident.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic stampede in Guinea, which claimed the lives of over 50 fans and caused numerous injuries during a football match at the N’Zérékoré stadium,” Motsepe said.
Motsepe extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of those who perished, the Guinean Football Federation (FGF), and the entire Guinean nation.
He also wished a swift recovery to the injured supporters. “May the souls of the deceased rest in eternal peace,” he added in the statement.
The tragedy occurred during a high-stakes match, leading to an overwhelming surge of spectators that resulted in the deadly crush.
While investigations into the cause of the stampede are ongoing, the event has cast a dark shadow over African football.
The Zone A of the Union of West African Federations (UFOA) also expressed solidarity with CAF, echoing the organization’s sentiments and sending their condolences to the victims and their families.
As the football community grapples with the aftermath of this devastating event, calls for increased safety measures and better crowd management at stadiums are growing.
CAF, along with the Guinean authorities, is expected to work closely to ensure such tragedies are prevented in the future.
