Yaounde stadium stampede sends troubled Afcon into further crisis

YAOUNDE : The deaths of at least eight people in a stampede at Yaounde’s Olembe Stadium on Monday was a severe blow to an already troubled Africa Cup of Nations tournament, which looked to be going ahead on Tuesday despite the disaster.

At least 38 people were also injured as spectators rushed to get into the host nation's last-16 game against Comoros, throwing a tournament beset by problems into further crisis.

It is, however, expected to continue with last-16 matches scheduled on Tuesday in Bafoussam and in Yaounde, at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.

Team officials told Reuters they had not been advised otherwise.

Images shared on social media, which Reuters could not immediately authenticate, showed screaming fans being crushed at an entrance gate.

There were also images of spectators streaming into the stadium on Monday through a small gap, and eye witnesses said many attempted to scale walls or push down gates to gain access.

The casualties were confirmed in a government statement and the Confederation of African Football has started an investigation.

"CAF is currently investigating the situation and trying to get more details on what transpired. We are in constant communication with Cameroon government and the Local Organising Committee," the ruling body said.

The new 60,000-seater Olembe Stadium, which hosted the opening game and is scheduled to stage the final on Feb. 6, had been the subject of controversy with works continuing right up to the start of the tournament.

CAF was so concerned about the readiness of the venue, plus Cameroon’s general lack of preparations, that it held an emergency meeting last month to discuss cancelling the tournament.

This edition of the African championship, the continent’s biggest sporting