"I say that the meeting scheduled for Sunday at the Olembé stadium (a quarter-final, editor's note) will not take place, it will be played at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium," CAF president Patrice Motsepe said on Tuesday during a meeting. 'a press conference.

"We need to set up a commission to immediately investigate what happened and find out who was supposed to do what and who didn't, didn't fulfill obligations. And we want their report of here on Friday,” Mr Motsepe said.

"It is only after the detailed report that we will make the decision whether or not to return to Olembé", the largest stadium in the country, built for the occasion and where a semi-final is scheduled for Thursday and the final on February 6, he warned.

"There will be zero tolerance" on situations "which could lead to injury and death at the stadium," warned the African football chief.

This Monday evening was to be a big party in the host country.

The Indomitable Lions were about to play their round of 16 against Comoros at the capital's grand Olembé stadium when a crowd swirling at at least one entrance knocked dozens of fans to the ground, before others do not step on them, according to convergent testimonies collected by AFP, which evoke security forces and health personnel "overwhelmed by events".

The president of the African Football Confederation Patrice Motsepe during a press conference on January 25, 2022 in Yaoundé Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD AFP

Professor André Omgbwa Eballe, director of the Olembé district hospital, had gone to the match and was waiting in front of the South gate, then went to his establishment to receive dozens of injured people.

"It was an incredible influx, I had never seen so many people in front of this stadium", testifies the doctor at the microphone of AFPTV.

As with most national team meetings, thousands of supporters gathered in front of the Olembé complex, some with tickets, others not, hoping to return, assure Professor Eballe and other witnesses.

Overwhelmed police

The 60,000-seat stadium was specially built for the CAN and barely completed for the start of the competition on January 9.

To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, a 60% stadium filling gauge has been introduced, increased to 80% when Cameroonians play, and supporters must jointly present a vaccination certificate and a negative test.

cThe security system includes three rows of controls, an alignment of barnums for checking sanitary passes, another for security searches and a third with 2m50 high grids for checking tickets.

Stampede in Cameroon Emmanuelle MICHEL AFP

"The gendarmes asked us to line up but there were undisciplined people who said: + Push, push +", described to AFP André Djoko in front of the Olembé district hospital.

"So the first people fell, the others climbed on them to pass and others climbed on the barrier. Those in front were saying: + You are crushing people + but they were not listening, "adds the youngster. man, cheek smeared with paint in the colors of Cameroon.

Crushed

"I found myself crushed against a woman who was screaming that she could no longer breathe. At one point, the entrance gave way and I was able to pass, it was terrible chaos", also testifies Stéphane.

"People know that we let spectators in after kick-off, that's why some tried to enter without a ticket," laments the 30-year-old.

The entrance to the Olembé stadium in Yaoundé on January 25, 2022, the day after the stampede before the Cameroon-Comoros African Cup of Nations match which left eight dead Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD AFP

The tragedy killed eight people, including a child and two women, and injured 38, seven of them seriously, detailed the Minister of Communication René Emmanuel Sadi.

Cameroonian President Paul Biya has ordered an investigation "so that all the light is shed on this tragic incident", continues the minister, whose government "once again calls on Cameroonians" for a sense of responsibility, discipline and civic-mindedness of all for the total success of this great sporting festival".

eba-amt-dyg-gir/hpa

© 2022 AFP