Cameroon blames stadium deaths on 'massive' influx of fans

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Cameroon authorities have blamed a deadly stadium crush at the African Cup of Nations tournament on a "massive" influx of ticketless fans who arrived late to a game involving the host team and tried to force their way in to avoid security checks and COVID-19 screening.

In response, the government ordered 250 extra police officers for Cameroon's next game, a quarterfinal against Gambia on Saturday at a different stadium.

The stampede at Monday's Cameroon-Comoros last 16 match at the African Cup's main Olembe Stadium in the capital of Yaounde left eight people dead and another 38 injured, seven of them seriously. It was one of the worst stadium disasters in the history of Africa's biggest soccer tournament.

Cameroon Sports Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi said at a news conference on Friday that the full results of a government investigation were not yet available, but he did reveal some new information.

Close to 60,000 fans tried to get into the game at the Olembe, Kombi said, when the crowd was meant to be capped at a maximum of 48,000 people because of COVID-19 restrictions.

African Cup organizers have made it compulsory for fans to present negative virus tests and proof they are vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend games.

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Fans reacts after Cameroon's captain Vincent Aboubakar, scored his team's first goal, during the African Cup of Nations 2022 group A soccer match between Cape Verde and Cameron at the Olembe stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022.  (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

But many fans didn't have tickets or meet the COVID-19 screening criteria and so forced their way in,