Two Fans Die In Stampede Ahead Of Benin’s AFCON Qualifier

Two fans died during a stampede at Benin’s Stade de l’Amitié Général Mathieu Kérékou during Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the Squirrels and Togo in Cotonou.

Reports from youths who attended the match indicated that two fans were killed in a stampede outside the national stadium before the Group D decisive match pitting the two neighboring nations.

One person was also reported critically injured and 14 others had minor injuries.

Despite the tragedy, the qualifier went ahead with Benin winning 2-1 to seal their place at Egypt 2019.

Cotonou based journalist Perez Lekotan linked the two deaths to a disruption caused by people trying to sell or present fake tickets at the stadium gate.

“There has been a push that led to the suffocation of people. Some people had to walk on other people. In tota,l we have two dead: Mehou Arnaud and Edah Mahougnon as Memo Kouton said. Sieur Rogatien Houssou is also in critical condition right now,” Lekaton posted on his official Facebook page.

However, the country’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Osland Homeky together with stadium management have refuted the claims saying that only three people were injured.

The match in Cotonou was not the only one which witnessed a stampede on Sunday; a similar situation was reported in Harare during Zimbabwe’s final qualifier against Congo-Brazzaville.

One female fan was confirmed dead following a stampede that occurred outside the National Stadium as fans scrambled to get inside the stadium to watch the decisive match.

Police confirmed the incident, saying that two other people who were also injured in the commotion.

“We are saddened to confirm that a woman died today (yesterday) between 2pm and 3pm and two people were injured at the National Sports Stadium at the match between Zimbabwe and Congo,” Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi told The Herald.

Zimbabwe went on to beat Congo 2-0 to qualify for the continental showpiece but the media only heard about the tragic news after the match.