Riots and stampedes in African stadiums have caused deadly events for decades with a typical recurrence of incidents, culminating in the latest disaster in Cameroon on Monday during the African Nations Cup.
At least 8 fans were killed in a stampede at the Yaounde Olympic stadium in Cameroon, most of them suspected of not having tickets, while trying to enter the stadium to watch the host country's match in the price of the final against Comoros.
It is the first disaster of its kind in the tournament, the continent's biggest sporting event, which has already been hit hard by the organisation.
The worst disaster on the continent occurred in Ghana in 2001, when 127 people were killed in a fatal stampede at the "Accra" stadium after police threw tear gas canisters into the stands to calm rioting fans in an important local league match.
deliberate targeting
A year earlier, police in Zimbabwe did the same, deliberately firing tear gas at the exit gates in response to fans throwing projectiles on the stadium when the national team lost to
neighboring South Africa in a World Cup qualifier.
Investigations found that the police had caused the deaths of 13 people at the National Stadium, but that none of the culprits had been punished.
The same stadium witnessed another stampede when a spectator was killed before an African Nations Cup qualifier match between Zimbabwe and Congo in 2019.
72 spectators of Al-Ahly fans were killed in a stampede after facing Al-Masry Al-Portsaidi on February 1, 2012.
Following this disaster, fans' attendance of matches in Egypt was greatly restricted.
In another disaster, a police investigation found that spectators entered Ellis Park in Johannesburg after bribing gatekeepers to attend a derby between the Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates;
As a result, 43 people were killed in a stampede after the stadium was completely filled.