Two dead and 10 injured in stampede at Benin-Senegal match

By AFP

COTONOU (BENIN): Two people died and 10 were injured in a Benin stadium as supporters surged to get into a football match against Senegal, a local justice official and a hospital source said on Monday.

The stampede happened on Saturday in Cotonou, Benin’s economic capital, during qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations.

“There was an incident which caused the death of two people,” Benin district attorney Jules Ahoga said in a statement.

As per the statement, one person died in the stands and another at the hospital, adding that an investigation was underway.

The Cheetahs of Benin played at home against the Teranga Lions of Senegal to secure a qualifying place in the Africa Cup of Nations.

The teams drew 1-1.

HIGHLIGHTS: 1-1

Benin come from behind to earn a well deserved point againt reigning champions Senegal #TotalEnergiesAFCONQ2023 pic.twitter.com/dMltjZ2qoO

— CAF (@CAF_Online) June 18, 2023

A source at Benin’s football federation confirmed the two deaths. The stadium’s gates had been ordered to be open free of charge to make access easier, the source said.

“It wasn’t the federation which made it free, it’s the state, through the ministry of sport,” they added.

Benin supporter Louis Nouwatin (32), who was caught up in the crowds, blamed the crush on supporters “who wanted to push their way through so that they could grab a seat.”

“We were trampled on mercilessly. The police were overwhelmed,” he said.

“You shouldn’t go out to support the national team and go home in a coffin.”

Six injured were admitted to a hospital and four others to an area health centre, a hospital source told AFP.

A similar incident occurred in March 2019 during a match against Togo, when one person died and 13 were injured.

<br /> COTONOU (BENIN): Two people died and 10 were injured in a Benin stadium as supporters surged to get into a football match against Senegal, a local justice official and a hospital source said on Monday.</p> <!-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v. 2.0.85 --> <div class="quads-location quads-ad241053 " id="quads-ad241053" style="float:none;margin:0px 3px 3px 3px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;" data-lazydelay="0"> <!-- WP QUADS - Quick AdSense Reloaded v.2.0.85 Content AdSense async --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block;" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7550963679842137" data-ad-slot="3250057321"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script> <!-- end WP QUADS --> </div> <p>The stampede happened on Saturday in Cotonou, Benin’s economic capital, during qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations.</p> <p>“There was an incident which caused the death of two people,” Benin district attorney Jules Ahoga said in a statement. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1687167573941-0’); });</p> <!-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v. 2.0.85 --> <div class="quads-location quads-ad241053 " id="quads-ad241053" style="float:none;margin:0px 3px 3px 3px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;" data-lazydelay="0"> <!-- WP QUADS - Quick AdSense Reloaded v.2.0.85 Content AdSense async --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block;" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7550963679842137" data-ad-slot="3250057321"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script> <!-- end WP QUADS --> </div> <p>As per the statement, one person died in the stands and another at the hospital, adding that an investigation was underway.</p> <p>The Cheetahs of Benin played at home against the Teranga Lions of Senegal to secure a qualifying place in the Africa Cup of Nations.</p> <!-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v. 2.0.85 --> <div class="quads-location quads-ad241053 " id="quads-ad241053" style="float:none;margin:0px 3px 3px 3px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;" data-lazydelay="0"> <!-- WP QUADS - Quick AdSense Reloaded v.2.0.85 Content AdSense async --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block;" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7550963679842137" data-ad-slot="3250057321"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script> <!-- end WP QUADS --> </div> <p>The teams drew 1-1.</p> <p>HIGHLIGHTS: 1-1<br /> Benin come from behind to earn a well deserved point againt reigning champions Senegal #TotalEnergiesAFCONQ2023 pic.twitter.com/dMltjZ2qoO<br /> — CAF (@CAF_Online) June 18, 2023<br /> A source at Benin’s football federation confirmed the two deaths. The stadium’s gates had been ordered to be open free of charge to make access easier, the source said.</p> <!-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v. 2.0.85 --> <div class="quads-location quads-ad241053 " id="quads-ad241053" style="float:none;margin:0px 3px 3px 3px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;" data-lazydelay="0"> <!-- WP QUADS - Quick AdSense Reloaded v.2.0.85 Content AdSense async --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block;" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7550963679842137" data-ad-slot="3250057321"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script> <!-- end WP QUADS --> </div> <p>“It wasn’t the federation which made it free, it’s the state, through the ministry of sport,” they added.</p> <p>Benin supporter Louis Nouwatin (32), who was caught up in the crowds, blamed the crush on supporters “who wanted to push their way through so that they could grab a seat.”</p> <!-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v. 2.0.85 --> <div class="quads-location quads-ad241053 " id="quads-ad241053" style="float:none;margin:0px 3px 3px 3px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;" data-lazydelay="0"> <!-- WP QUADS - Quick AdSense Reloaded v.2.0.85 Content AdSense async --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block;" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7550963679842137" data-ad-slot="3250057321"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script> <!-- end WP QUADS --> </div> <p>“We were trampled on mercilessly. The police were overwhelmed,” he said.</p> <p>“You shouldn’t go out to support the national team and go home in a coffin.”</p> <!-- WP QUADS Content Ad Plugin v. 2.0.85 --> <div class="quads-location quads-ad241053 " id="quads-ad241053" style="float:none;margin:0px 3px 3px 3px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;" data-lazydelay="0"> <!-- WP QUADS - Quick AdSense Reloaded v.2.0.85 Content AdSense async --> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block;" data-ad-format="auto" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7550963679842137" data-ad-slot="3250057321"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});</script> <!-- end WP QUADS --> </div> <p>Six injured were admitted to a hospital and four others to an area health centre, a hospital source told AFP.</p> <p>A similar incident occurred in March 2019 during a match against Togo, when one person died and 13 were injured.<br />