NEW DELHI: A tragic stampede at a football stadium in southern Guinea resulted in 56 fatalities and numerous injuries following fan clashes, as announced by the Guinean government on Monday.
The government has initiated an investigation to identify those responsible for the Sunday incident, according to Communications Minister Fana Soumah‘s televised statement.
Local media and political groups reported that children were among those who lost their lives, reported news agency AP.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon at Nzerekore stadium during a local tournament final between Labe and Nzerekore teams, organised to honour military leader Mamadi Doumbouya, as stated by Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah on X.
Bah confirmed casualties without providing specifics, noting that regional authorities were working to stabilise the situation.
According to local reports, security forces deployed tear gas to control the chaos that erupted after a contested penalty decision.
Media Guinea reported that the disputed penalty sparked supporter outrage, leading to stone-throwing and subsequent tear gas deployment by security forces. The outlet noted that children were among the deceased, with several critically injured victims receiving treatment at a regional hospital.

Video footage from the venue showed supporters protesting referee decisions before conflicts erupted, with spectators spilling onto the pitch.
The recordings captured people fleeing the stadium, with many scaling the high perimeter fence.
Additional footage showed numerous casualties on a hospital floor surrounded by people providing assistance to the wounded.
The National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy opposition group demanded an inquiry, criticising the tournament as a vehicle for promoting the military leader’s “illegal and inappropriate” political aspirations.
Guinea has been under military governance since the 2021 coup that removed President Alpha Conde. It joins other West African nations, including Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where military takeovers have delayed civilian rule restoration.
Doumbouya, who led the coup three years ago, claimed to prevent national chaos and criticised the previous administration’s unfulfilled promises, though he faces criticism for not meeting public expectations.