Authorities in Guinea are still trying very hard to calm frayed nerves following the death of six soccer fans during celebrations of the country’s first victory at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.
A report by the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, said that the Guinean Football Federation (Feguifoot) and former star, Pascal Feindouno, have called for calm after supporters died back home celebrating the country’s 1-0 win over The Gambia in their second group game last Friday night.
The victory sparked widespread celebrations across the West African nation, the report continued. Six people died after from the celebrations after fans took to the roads of Conakry to celebrate in cars and on motorcycles.
“What is important is that our fans and the public celebrate in a very measured fashion,” Feguifoot media manager Amadou Makadji told BBC Sport Africa.
“They have to be very careful to not put themselves in danger, because the goal of football is to bring joy and not leave families bereaved. We do not want deaths to mourn, so we call on everyone to celebrate but to take care of themselves so that nothing happens to them.
“Guinea is a country where people are very, very passionate about football and they experience football like nowhere else in the world. Fans spilled onto the streets shortly after the final where Guinea’s win, which followed Monday’s opening 1-1 draw with Cameroon, was only their third in their last 15 Nations Cup matches dating back to 2012.
Aguibou Camara scored the winner late on to move Guinea up to second in Group C with four points, two behind defending champions, Senegal, but three ahead of third-placed Cameroon, who are five-time winners, while the Gambians are pointless.
Three people died when two vehicles collided at high speed while several dozen others were injured in road accidents, a police source told Agence France Presse, who added that many fans drove around on car bonnets as the capital’s roads filled up in celebration.
Guinea Quakes as 6 Die amid Celebrations; Federation Calls for Calm
Volunteers carry an injured supporter to an ambulance following the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 group A football match between Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast at the Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan on January 22, 2024. (Photo by Issouf SANOGO / AFP)