A horrific incident unfolded in Guinea, West Africa, as a soccer match erupted into violence, leaving approximately 100 spectators dead.
According to AFP, the deadly clash occurred in Nzérékoré, Guinea’s second-largest city, located in the southeastern part of the country. The match, the final soccer tournament held to honor President Mamady Doumbouya, who took power in a 2021 military coup, quickly spiraled into chaos. The violence began when fans, enraged by the referee’s decisions, stormed the field. The situation worsened when some protesters attacked a local police station, setting it on fire in defiance of law enforcement’s attempts to restore order.
A doctor at a local hospital treating the victims described the dire situation to AFP, explaining that the hospital was overwhelmed with bodies, which were lining the hallways, and that the morgue was at capacity. Hospital officials estimated the death toll to be around 100, although Guinean authorities had not yet released an official figure. Sources suggested that the high number of critically injured could lead to an increase in fatalities.
Graphic videos and photos showing the violence and its aftermath have quickly spread across social media. The footage depicts chaotic scenes of spectators attempting to climb over walls, falling to the ground, and clashing with riot police deployed to control the unrest.
This tragic event serves as a sobering reminder of the potential dangers when sports rivalries and political tensions collide. The disaster has left the local community in mourning and raises serious questions about the region’s event security and crowd control measures.