Fans challenged the referee’s decision and invaded the field. The government has not yet commented on the incident, which may have been politically motivated.
More than 50 people died this Sunday during clashes between fans of a football match in the city of N’Zérékoré, in Guinea-Conakry, medical sources said.
According to one of the sources cited by the AFP news agency, who works in a regional hospital, there are bodies lined up in the corridors of the unit and the morgue is full.
A witness told AFP that the fans challenged the referee’s decision and invaded the field. According to other witnesses, angry supporters vandalized and set fire to the N’Zérékoré police station.
In the videos circulated on social media, the authenticity of which AFP was unable to verify, numerous inert bodies can be seen. Other videos circulating online show scenes of great confusion in the streets after the clashes broke out.
| The final of a football tournament in support of the junta turns into a tragedy in N’zérékoré, in the south of the country. At least 10 dead, according to sources, most of whom are children.
The assessment of certain refereeing decisions during the match between the team…
— Facely Konate (@FacelyKonate1)
According to the press, it was a game dedicated to the head of the Military Junta, Mamadi Doumbouya, who came to power after one he led in September 2021.
These football tournaments have proliferated in recent weeks in Guinea and are seen as possible support for Doumbouya’s candidacy in the next presidential elections. The junta initially committed, under international pressure, to giving up the seat to elected civilians before the end of 2024. Since then, it has made it known that it would break its promise.
The Government has not yet commented on the incident.
