Douala: A stepped up which caused the death of eight people outside the African National Cup of Stadium was caused by “reckless” decision to open the gate in the face of a “flood of people”, Cameroon’s sports minister on Friday.
“It entered the gate for a moment closed by security forces in the face of a surge in viewers even though the other entrance gate was operated,” Narcisse Mouelle Kombi said at a press conference in Douala.
“Overwhelmed by this surge, security forces made a desperate decision to open the southern gate, which led to a crush,” which caused the tragedy on Monday at the Olege Stadium in Yaounde.
Eight was killed including a child, while 38 people were also injured.
The witness told AFP that the masses were destroyed against the gate at the south entrance before the police finally opened them.
Hundreds of supporters then broke through, causing a raid.
The Minister also acknowledged that the number of security staff was “sufficient” at the 60,000-olembe capacity stadium in the Cameroon capital for the last-16 match between the host and Comoros.
However, he blames the number of people who try to get with fake or tickets that have been used, or even without a ticket, for the raid.
He also said too many supporters arrived late even though the gate opened five hours before the kick-off and closed the government’s school and public service in the afternoon to allow people to watch and match present.
As the aftermath of the tragedy, Patrice Motsepe, president of the African Football Confederation (CAF), announced that the quarter-finals are Sunday because it will be played at the Oleke Stadium will turn to Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, also in Yaounde.
He also announced that CAF would not allow other matches to be played at the Oleke Stadium if the Cameroon government did not submit an investigation report by Friday.
“The gate should be open because if it is open they will run through, and for reasons that cannot be explained is closed,” said Motsepe Tuesday.
The Minister of Sports said the investigation report, while not published, was sent to CAF on Friday and added that the priority for the Cameroon government was to reopen the olembe stage as soon as possible.
“We really don’t play down what happens but there are no countries that are safe from the threat of accidents or disasters like that,” he said before announcing a few steps intended to make a safe venue.
The steps include moving tickets and Covid-19 examination tests further from the stadium, increasing the number of security personnel and prohibiting children under 11 from the match.
Many in all places have been officially limited to 60 percent of the capacity for tournaments because of a pandemic, but the lid is raised to 80 percent when Cameroon plays.
For now the second cup of the Semifinal Nations, which will be played on February 3, and the end of February 6 is still scheduled at the Olembe Stadium.
The first semifinal, originally scheduled for Douala on February 2, has also been transferred to Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, but the reason given to it is the surface of playing in the Cameroon economic capital.
That means the final match that will be played at the Japoma 50,000 stadium – Douala’s capacity will be on Saturday when Cameroon Gambia’s face in the quarter-finals.