Deaths in Ivory Coast soccer crush

At least 22 people killed in stampede at World Cup qualifying football match.

Ivory coast stampede
Witnesses say part of a wall collapsed in the arena, killing at least 22 people [AFP]

Riots and stampedes

Yvonne Ndege, Al Jazeera’s correspondent, said: “Questions will be asked of the Ivorian Football Association and those that run the stadium.

“The Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba, was making his return appearance, so tens of thousands of people had turned up to see their footballing hero.”

Many casualties were treated at the stadium as the match went ahead with Ivory Coast beating Malawi 5-0.

The country’s interior and sports ministers held an emergency meeting with leaders of the Ivory Coast Football  Federation (FIF) following the disaster, FIF president  Albert Kakou Anzouan said.

Hundreds of people have been killed in stadium riots and stampedes in Africa over the last decade.

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies