No fewer than eight soccer fans were killed on Saturday in a
stampede at Demba Diop stadium in Dakar, Senegal.
The stampede occurred during a match between two local
teams, the sports minister said.
A fight broke out between fans of rivals US Ouakam and Stade
de Mbour and police fired tear gas to break it up.
The resulting confusion triggered the stampede, Sports
Minister Matar Ba said.
APS reported that at least 49 others were seriously injured
in the confusion as a wall collapsed at the stadium.
Senegal’s safety record at large gatherings has been heavily
criticized this year after the death of dozens of people at a religious retreat
in April when a fire ripped through makeshift shelters.
At least 17 people also died in a stampede in a match in
Angola in February when hundreds of supporters stormed the stadium.
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