Eight die in Senegal football fan stampede
Eight people were killed during Senegal’s football league final in Dakar when a wall collapsed on to clashing supporters who had triggered a stampede.
Sports minister Matar Ba said that a young girl was among the dead, and about 60 injured fans had been taken to hospitals in Dakar.
Mr Ba pledged “strong measures so that such an event will never be repeated in Senegal”. Many firefighters and ambulances remained at the scene late on Saturday.
The stadium was packed with people for the long-awaited clash between local teams US Ouakam and Stade de Mbour.
At 2-1 in extra time, US Ouakam supporters began throwing stones at Stade de Mbour fans, prompting spectators to rush from their seats.
Part of a wall supporting seats collapsed after police fired tear gas and panic spread in the stadium leading to a crush.
“All of a sudden when the wall fell,” said Cheikh Maba Diop, a witness who helped to remove victims from the stadium and lost a friend in the tragedy.
“We knew exactly that some of our own had lost their lives because the wall fell directly on to people.”
Football fan Mara Die Diouf said there had not been enough police at the venue.
“What I find terrible is that we have this kind of final in this kind of stadium where there isn’t enough security,” Mr Diouf said.
He said police retreated from an area separating rival supporters when stones were thrown, causing panic among spectators.
El Hamidou Kasse, a spokesman for president Macky Sall yesterday said that campaigning for Senegal’s legislative elections on July 30 would be suspended as a mark of respect for the victims.
Mr Sall also wanted “punishments serving as a warning” after the tragedy, Mr Kasse said.
Senegal’s safety record at large gatherings has been heavily criticised this year after the death of dozens of people at a religious retreat in April when a fire destroyed makeshift shelters.