CONFEDERATION of African Football president Patrice Motsepe has expressed his condolences following the loss of lives at a stadium in Madagascar.

A stampede of spectators trying to enter Madagascar’s national stadium for the opening ceremony of the Indian Ocean Island Games left 12 dead and injured around 80 on Friday.

Videos shared on social media showed Red Cross workers giving medical attention to scores of injured people next to the athletics track as Prime Minister Christian Ntsay said 11 of the injured were in a critical condition.

“CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe conveyed his heartfelt condolences and the condolences of CAF to the families and the Fédération Malagasy de Football in respect of the 12 people who lost their lives and all the persons who were injured during the football match at the Mahamasina Municipal Stadium in Antananarivo, Madagascar,” a CAF statement today said.

“CAF also extends its condolences to the Government of Madagascar and the friends and the colleagues of the 12 people who lost their lives.

“CAF is also wishing the people who were injured a speedy and full recovery.”

According to Reuters, it was not immediately clear what caused the stampede, but at least 15 people were killed in a similar incident at the Mahamasina stadium in 2019.

“An unfortunate event happened. There was a stampede at the entrance. There were a lot of injuries. We will observe a few seconds of silence because compatriots have died when they wanted to enter,” President Andry Rajoelina told the crowd in the stadium after the incident.

[Ntn]