While celebrating their nation’s first victory at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, or AFCON, in Ivory Coast, six Guinean supporters lost their lives.
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The tragedy happened as fans flocked to the roadways of Conakry, the capital of Guinea, to celebrate in automobiles and motorcycles, the Guinean Football Federation, or Feguifoot, revealed to the BBC.
In their second group match on Friday night in Ivory Coast, Guinea defeated The Gambia 1-0, sparking wild jubilation around the West African country.
The public, according to Amadou Makadji, the media manager for Feguifoot, and its supporters had a raucous celebration.
It is crucial that the public and our supporters celebrate in a restrained manner.
“They must exercise extreme caution so as not to endanger themselves, as football is meant to be a joyful sport and not cause sorrow for families.” We encourage everyone to celebrate but to take care of themselves so that nothing bad happens to them since we do not want deaths to cause grief.
He declared, “People in Guinea are incredibly passionate about football and they play the game like no other place in the world.”
Guinea now sits second in Group C with four points, two behind reigning champions Senegal but three ahead of third-placed, five-time winners Cameroon, while the Gambians remain bottom with one point thanks to a goal from Aguibou Camara.
Three people perished in a high-speed collision involving two vehicles, while numerous more were injured in traffic accidents, according to a police source. The source also stated that a large number of fans were driving about on car bonnets as the capital’s roadways were packed with celebrators.
The nation’s supporters have been exhorted to maintain composure by Feguifoot and former celebrity Pascal Feindouno.
The 42-year-old, who has represented Guinea at four Nations Cups, told the BBC in Yamoussoukro, the team’s home base, “I have a message to send to Guinean men and women.”
The Nations Cup, which began on January 13 and will conclude with the final on February 11 in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast, as reported by Obasanjo News24.
