Audio By Carbonatix
Eight people have been killed during a Senegal football league final in Dakar in a stampede that broke out following clashes at the end of the match, the official APS news agency said.
A wall collapsed at Demba Diop stadium on Saturday as people prepared to leave after the game between local teams Ouakam and Stade de Mbour, APS reported, adding many more were injured.
Police fired tear gas at clashing supporters from both teams who were throwing projectiles, and panic spread in the stadium leading to a crush.
Sports minister Matar Ba said a young girl was among the dead, while around 60 injured fans had been taken to health facilities in Dakar.
He vowed "strong measures so that such an event will never be repeated in Senegal".
At 2-1 during extra time, US Ouakam supporters began throwing stones at Stade de Mbour fans, causing spectators to begin vacating their seats in a rush, an AFP news agency journalist at the scene said.
Part of a wall supporting bleachers seating fans from both sides then collapsed as police starte firing tear gas.
"All of a sudden, the wall fell. We knew some of our own had lost their lives because the wall fell directly onto people," said Cheikh Maba Diop, a witness who helped evacuate victims from the stadium and lost a friend in the tragedy.
Campaigning for Senegal's legislative elections due on July 30 would be suspended on Sunday in respect for the victims, said a spokesman for President Macky Sall.
Sall also wanted "punishments serving as a warning" following the tragedy, spokesman El Hamidou Kasse said on TFM television.
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 ripped through makeshift shelters.
Latest Stories
-
No increase in academic facility fees; Telecel data levy now optional – University of Ghana clarifies
7 minutes -
Deloitte Tax Webinar: Independent Tax Appeals Board urges taxpayers to refile appeals for fair dispute resolution
7 minutes -
GIISDEC to implement policy to formalise scrap dealing business
15 minutes -
NAIMOS disrupts nighttime illegal mining operations along the Ankobrah River
38 minutes -
Health Ministry adopts population-based pharmacy licensing to boost universal healthcare
40 minutes -
Ghana Publishing says recent turnaround due to current administration, not former MD
40 minutes -
We voted, now we need water and roads – Bono East residents to government
42 minutes -
Vice President lauds Local Government Ministry for driving decentralisation reforms
44 minutes -
Spatial Planning Authority proposes 90-day emergency pilot to break Accra’s gridlock
48 minutes -
WAFCON 2026: Black Queens in Group D, face Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde
1 hour -
NCCE urges public to prioritise importance of paying tax for development Â
1 hour -
Widespread delays hit Uganda election amid internet shutdown
1 hour -
Fear grips Akoti health centre staff after armed men storm facility
1 hour -
Astronauts splash down to Earth after medical evacuation from space station
1 hour -
Solutions gather dust: Spatial planner laments idle €2.4M transport blueprints amid Accra’s gridlock
1 hour
