DAR ES SALAAM: At least one football fan died on Sunday and 30 others were injured following a stampede after the fans forced themselves into the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in the Tanzanian port city of Dar es Salaam, officials said.
Xinhua reported that the stampede occurred when football fans pushed through an access gate as they rushed in to watch the CAF Confederation Cup first leg finals between the Young Africans of Tanzania and the USM Alger of Algeria.
Minister for Health Ummy Mwalimu confirmed one person had died in the stampede and scores of others were injured.
“A team of experts at emergency services of the Muhimbili National Hospital has already contacted the Temeke Regional Referral Hospital, and they are ready to receive and attend to the injured persons who will need more treatment,” Mwalimu wrote on her Twitter account.
USM Alger won the match by beating Young Africans 2-1. The second leg finals will be held in the Algerian capital of Algiers in a week’s time. – BERNAMA-XINHUA
