AFCON 2021: CAF lifts ban on Olembé Stadium after deadly stampede
Cameroon’s Olembe Stadium is set to reopen for an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final and final.
Many people died, with dozens injured in a stampede when hosts Cameroon and Comoros met in the last-16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Olembe Stadium. The deadly incident led Confederation of African Football (CAF) to impose sanctions over the venue.
However, further to security measures strengthening, the newly built Olembe Stadium has been reinstated to host the semi-final between the Cameroon hosts and Egypt, as well as the final.
CAF is now confident that public safety at the Olembe Stadium can be assured following a report into the incident.
“The CAF organizing committee has unanimously decided to lift the suspension imposed on the Olembé stadium and to authorize one of the AFCON semi-finals as well as the final match to take place at the stadium of Olembé” – CAF said in a statement
What happened was quite appaling….many lives lost where security measures were not up to international standards….it has become a frequent occurrence in African sports and needs to be severely addressed and dealt with…CAF shuold be held responsible for validating the stadia…..I guess as they say “the show must go on”….may the souls that were lost rest in peace.