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Cote d'Ivoire/Malawi: Many Die in Soccer Stampede

30 March 2009

More than 20 people died in a crush at Abidjan's Houphouet-Boigny Stadium ahead of the soccer World Cup qualifying match between Côte d'Ivoire and Malawi on Sunday.

The BBC reported that at least 22 were killed and more than 130 injured in a stampede when thousands of Ivoriens tried to get into the game to see Didier Drogba, who plays for Chelsea in England, return to international football.

The Associated Press said interior minister Desire Tagro told state television: "They [the fans] started pushing to get in because the match was about to start and each and every one of them wanted to get in."

The agency reported that a correspondent for a sports daily said a wall collapsed as fans pushed in. "We saw people falling... Then there was panic and a stampede," he said.

The game went ahead despite the tragedy, with the home team beating Malawi 5-0. Drogba scored two of the goals.

Tagged: Cote d'Ivoire, Malawi, Soccer, Southern Africa, Sport, West Africa, World Cup

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Comments 1 to 2 of 2 Post a comment

  • hom
    Mar 30 2009, 07:20
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    FIFA SHOULD BAN COTE DIVOIRE FROM HOSTING FOOTBALL MATCHES.DROGBA SHOULD NOT BEHAVE AS IF HE IS ANOTHER OBAMA,HE SHOULD VISIT HIS COUNTRY REGURALY.

  • BonQuiQui
    Mar 31 2009, 14:30
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    This kind of desperate behavior is rampant in Cote d'Ivoire at the moment...having just left the country after a three week visit it is actually sadly not surprising this tradgedy happened. But when people are stripped of hope then they cling onto anything that may give them a glimpse of it. And because becoming a "soccer hero" is the only dream that many young African men may actually realize (would they stampede into see a famous Invoirien doctor? A famous female lawyer? A human rights activist? A ground breaking scientist? No - they can't get to school, but they always have access to a dusty peice of ground and something resembling a ball)...Ivoirien politicians and the human race in general are responsible for creating this kind of desperation for Drogba. Even touring through the country - you see huge posters for "Drobattitude" but I didn't see a single poster regarding Election Processes, Peace Achievement or AIDS prevention...if only 20 people died in this one incident, then it was a lucky thing in my opinion. Drogba is indeed an inigma to which his fans arouund the world cling to - if only fans could apply the same kind of pressure on government to lessen the tradegy of Cote d'Ivoire.