Football, often called the beautiful game, has the power to unite nations and ignite passions.
Yet, in a heartbreaking turn of events, what began as a celebration of sport in Guinea turned into a scene of chaos and tragedy, leaving dozens dead and countless families in mourning.
The Clashes between fans at a football match on Sunday in N’Zerekore, Guinea’s second-largest city, killed dozens of people, hospital sources told AFP, describing scenes of mass carnage.
Guinea Clashes Claim Lives
“There are bodies lined up as far as the eye can see in the hospital. Others are lying on the floor in the hallways.
One doctor said: “The morgue is full,” speaking on condition of anonymity because authorities had not authorised him to speak to the media.
He said: “There are around 100 dead”, with bodies filling the local hospital and morgue.
“Another doctor said there were “dozens of dead”.
Circulating Videos
Videos circulating on social media, which AFP was unable to immediately verify, showed scenes of chaos in the street outside the match and numerous bodies lying on the ground.
Angry demonstrators also vandalised and set fire to the N’Zerekore police station, according to witnesses.
“It all started with a contested decision by the referee.
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“Then fans invaded the pitch,” a witness told AFP, asking that his name be withheld for safety reasons.
Reason For Guinea March Tournament
Although, local media reported that organisers held the match as part of a tournament honouring Guinea’s junta leader, Mamadi Doumbouya, who seized power in a 2021 coup and now serves as president.
Moreover, such tournaments have become increasingly common in the West African nation.
As a result, Doumbouya is positioning himself for a potential run in the presidential elections expected next year, while political alliances are also beginning to take shape.
