AFCON 2021: CAF President Patrice Motsepe announces temporary closure of Olembe Stadium after stampede
President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Patrice Motsepe has asked that the next 2021 Africa Cup of Nations match scheduled to take place at the Olembe Stadium be moved to a different venue because of Monday night’s stampede.
Motsepe said Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, also in Yaounde, should host the match which will be a quarter-final meeting between Ivory Coast or Egypt and Malawi or Morocco on Sunday.
According to reports, the stampede occurred before the last 16 clash between Cameroon and debutants Comoros which the five-time African champions won 2-1.
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Eight persons have been confirmed dead while many others were injured after the crush outside the Stadium.
Videos showed crowds of screaming football fans being crushed at the entry gates to the stadium named after long-serving President Paul Biya.
Biya has ordered an investigation into the crush and sent his “deepest condolences” to the victims’ families. CAF has also launched its own investigation.
Officials said about 50,000 people tried to attend the match.
The stadium has a capacity of 60,000 but it was not meant to be more than 80% full for the game because of Covid restrictions.
