Six fans from Guinea tragically lost their lives in exuberant celebrations that turned fatal following their national football team’s victory over Gambia in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Reports from Agence France Presse (AFP) indicated that three people died in a collision between two vehicles traveling at high speed, while others suffered injuries in various road accidents. Some fans were even spotted celebrating by perching on car bonnets in the capital city.
The Guinea Football Federation has called for calm and urged fans to celebrate victories in a more measured manner to avoid further tragedies. Amadou Makadji, the media manager for the Guinea Football Federation, emphasized the importance of celebrating without putting oneself in danger, emphasizing that the goal of football is to bring joy and not to leave families in mourning.
Guinea Football Federation media manager Amadou Makadji said that six people have been confirmed to have died in the celebrations. ‘What is important is that our fans and the public celebrate in a very measured fashion,’ Feguifoot media manager Amadou Makadji told BBC Sport Africa.
‘They have to be very careful to not put themselves in danger, because the goal of football is to bring joy and not leave families bereaved. ‘We do not want deaths to mourn, so we call on everyone to celebrate but to take care of themselves so that nothing happens to them.
‘Guinea is a country where people are very, very passionate about football and they experience football like nowhere else in the world. Guinea legend Pascal Feindouno, who helped the national team reach three consecutive quarter-finals between 2004 and 2008, joined the appeals for calm.
Feindouno claimed the news of fan deaths could destablise the team and urged the public to ‘support the country but don’t do anything to kill each other or oneself’. Guinea, known for its passionate football culture, experienced major celebrations after the victory, with fans taking to the streets to express their joy.
The tragic incidents underscore the need for fans to celebrate responsibly and prioritize safety during moments of triumph. The country’s football legend, Pascal Feindouno, joined the calls for calm, expressing concern that such incidents could destabilize the team and urging the public to support the country without endangering lives.
Despite the somber events, Guinea’s football team continues its campaign in the Africa Cup of Nations, currently standing second in their group with three points.
