The first Africa Cup in Cameroon in 50 years has been overshadowed by a mass panic that has killed several people.
According to the latest information, eight people died and 38 others were injured when the hosts reached the quarter-finals on Monday evening.
The panic before the game against Comoros in the Stade d'Olembé in the capital Yaoundé is said to have been triggered because many people did not come to the stadium.
According to witnesses, stewards closed the entrance gates to the stadium.
Photos show several people, including children, lying on the ground and others apparently trying to help them.
According to the information, 50,000 people tried to watch Cameroon's game against Comoros (2-1).
60,000 visitors fit into the stadium, but due to the Corona regulations, only 80 percent of the seats (48,000) were allowed to be filled.
Bundesliga professional Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting from FC Bayern Munich also represented Cameroon.
The African Football Association CAF said it was aware of the incident and was gathering more information.
One is in exchange with the government of Cameroon and the local organizing committee.
Secretary-General Veron Mosengo-Omba was sent to the hospital to visit the injured.
Cameroon is only hosting the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time since 1972.
The country in the middle of the continent was supposed to host the tournament in 2019, but was withdrawn from the tournament because of concerns that the stadiums would not be suitable.
Egypt hosted the counterpart to the European Championship back then.
Hosts Cameroon and surprise team The Gambia advanced to the quarter-finals.
With Choupo-Moting, Cameroon won 2-1 (1-0) against the courageous Cup newcomer Comoros.
Lyon pro Toko Ekambi (29th minute) and Vincent Aboubakar (70th) scored for the favorites and winners of preliminary round group A.
Youssouf M'Changama only reduced the lead (81').
After a corona outbreak and seven players who tested positive, the Comoros national team even had to play without a trained goalkeeper. After regular keeper Salim Ben Boina was injured in the 3-2 win against Ghana, substitutes Moyadh Ousseini and Ali Ahamada also tested positive for the corona virus. Defender Chaker Alhadhur was now in goal. In addition, after an early red card for captain Nadjim Abdou (7th), the Comoros were outnumbered for almost the entire duration of the game.
Gambia had previously reached the quarter-finals as the third team with a 1-0 (0-0) win over Guinea in Bafoussam.
Musa Barrow from Serie A club FC Bologna scored the decisive goal in the 71st minute.
The 19-year-old midfielder Ilaix Moriba from RB Leipzig was also in the starting XI for the losers Guinea.
Tunisia and Burkina Faso were the first teams to reach the top eight on Sunday.