Six fans in Guinea tragically lost their lives while rejoicing in the wake of the country’s first victory at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast. The Guinean Football Federation, Feguifoot, informed the BBC that the incident occurred as fans took to the streets of the Guinean capital, Conakry, celebrating in cars and on motorcycles.
Guinea secured a 1-0 win against The Gambia in their second group game in Ivory Coast on Friday night, sparking exuberant celebrations throughout the West African nation. Feguifoot’s media manager, Amadou Makadji, emphasized the importance of measured celebrations, urging fans to exercise caution and avoid putting themselves in harm’s way.
Makadji stated to BBC Africa Sport, “What is important is that our fans and the public celebrate in a very measured fashion. They have to be very careful not to put themselves in danger because football aims 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.”
In the aftermath of Guinea’s 1-0 victory, fans flooded the streets in celebration. A police source informed Agence France Presse that three people lost their lives in a collision between two vehicles at high speed, and several dozen others sustained injuries in road accidents. Many fans reportedly drove around on car bonnets as the capital’s roads filled up with jubilant celebrations.
Feguifoot, along with former star Pascal Feindouno, has appealed to the country’s fans to remain calm. Feindouno, who played in four Nations Cups, conveyed a message to Guinean men and women, emphasizing the need for restraint amidst the celebrations.
