Dozens Killed in Clashes During Soccer Match in Guinea; Estimates Near 100 Fatalities
As of Sunday, the exact number of fatalities remained uncertain, but at least one estimate suggested the toll could be close to 100.
Soccer Match
Dozens of individuals lost their lives on Sunday during violent clashes at a soccer match in Nzerekore, Guinea, according to media reports. The altercation took place during a game between the Labe and Nzerekore teams in the country's second-largest city.
Although the exact number of casualties remains uncertain, Agence France-Presse cited local hospital sources indicating "dozens dead," with one doctor estimating fatalities to be around 100. Guinea's Prime Minister, Bah Oury, condemned the violence in a statement on X, expressing sorrow over the incidents that disrupted the match.
The government has urged calm to ensure hospital services can efficiently provide first aid to the injured. Further details will be released as they become available, Oury stated.
The cause of the violence is not yet clear. Agence France-Presse reported that, according to a witness, the chaos ensued following a controversial referee decision that prompted fans to storm the field. A doctor at the local hospital confirmed that both the facility and morgue were rapidly becoming overwhelmed with bodies.
The match was part of a tournament honouring Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, Guinea’s military leader since 2021. Nzerekore, with a population of approximately 200,000, is located about 555 miles southeast of the capital.
