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Abidjan, Ivory Coast – (January 29, 2023) – In a review of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe has invited families of the victims from the Stade d’Olembe tragedy during the last edition in Cameroon to attend the final in Abidjan on Sunday.
The tragic incident, which occurred on January 24, 2022, before a round of 16 match between hosts Cameroon and Comoros, resulted in the loss of at least eight lives and 38 injuries, seven of them serious. A government report attributed the crush to a “massive and late influx of supporters” that led security forces to open a gate outside the stadium, contributing to the tragedy.
Motsepe expressed his condolences, stating, “> Some of the [victims’] family members from Cameroon are invited [to the AFCON final], and will be with us here in Cote d’Ivoire. We visited each of their houses, met with their families, and expressed our condolences.”
The CAF president also expressed confidence that measures implemented for the ongoing tournament in Ivory Coast would prevent a repeat of such an incident. “The day after the final in Cameroon, we were in Cote d’Ivoire already to prepare for this following AFCON,” he added. “We had to identify what our failures and weaknesses were, and what the things were in Cameroon we had to improve.”
Challenges and Learnings
Despite the Ivorian government’s investment of around $1.5 billion in tournament infrastructure, the competition has not been without its challenges. Injuries suffered by media professionals traveling between Yamoussoukro and Abidjan, as well as issues with broadcast consistency, ticket sales, and transportation, have provided valuable learnings for future AFCON editions.
Motsepe, however, remains optimistic about the tournament’s overall success, stating, “This AFCON has been excellent, the best AFCON in the history of the competition.” He also expressed pride in the global reach of the event, with more than 180 countries and close to two billion people worldwide tuning in to watch the African football spectacle.
As the continent’s premier football event, the Africa Cup of Nations continues to evolve, with Motsepe pledging that the next edition will be even better, and the one after that, better still. With the families of the Stade d’Olembe victims in attendance, the final in Abidjan on Sunday promises to be a poignant and meaningful occasion for the Football News community.
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