Over 17 people are reported to have lost their life and scores critically injured in a stampede at stadium gates before a league match in Angola on Friday.
According to media reports from Angola, the incident happened at the January 4th Stadium in Ugie on the opening day of the new league campaign as Recreativo do Libolo beat Santa Rita de Cassia 1-0.
“Some people had to walk on top of other people. There were 76 casualties, of whom 17 died,” Ernesto Luis, director general of the local hospital, told Reuters news agency.
It’s reported that before the match, hundreds of supporters rushed to one of the gates and over crowdedness saw many suffocate.
Angola President HE Jose Eduardo dos Santos has instructed officials to assist the injured and to open an investigation.
Uganda’s representatives in the CAF Champions League, KCCA will play in Angola next week on Sunday February 19, 2017 in the return match against Desportivo Primeiro 1 de Agosto.
KCCA won the first leg 1-0 against the Angolan champions with veteran centre forward Geoffrey Sserunkuma scoring the winner on 49th minutes.