N’zérékoré, Guinea: Dozens of people have reportedly lost their lives in a stampede following clashes at a football match in N’zérékoré, Guinea’s second-largest city.
Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah confirmed the incident, urging calm as authorities work to stabilize the situation. Official casualty numbers have not yet been released.
A doctor, speaking anonymously, reported that numerous bodies were “lined up” at the local hospital, with the morgue at full capacity.
The chaos reportedly began when fans of the visiting team, Labé, threw stones onto the pitch, angry over a referee’s decision. Police responded with tear gas, triggering a stampede.
Le gouvernement déplore les incidents qui ont émaillé le match de football entre les équipes de Labe et Nzerekore cet après-midi à Nzerekore . Lors de la bousculade des victimes sont enregistrées. Les autorités régionales sont à pied d’œuvre pour rétablir le calme et la sérénité…
— Bah Oury (@bahourykigna) December 1, 2024
Eyewitnesses described harrowing scenes of overcrowded hospital morgues and bodies outside the stadium.
Among the victims were children, according to the local Media and videos that appeared to be from the scene. Some of the injured are being treated at a regional hospital in critical condition.
The match between the Labe and N’zérékoré teams, part of a tournament honouring President Mamadi Doumbouya, saw thousands of spectators. Regional officials are providing assistance to the injured.
This tragedy recalls a grim chapter in Guinea’s history: the 2009 Conakry stadium massacre, where 156 people were killed and many others assaulted during an opposition rally. Former military leader Moussa Dadis Camara was recently sentenced for his role in that atrocity.
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