Sports

12 die, 80 injured in Madagascar stadium stampede

Published

1 year ago

August 26, 2023

Madagascan authorities have confirmed the death of at least 12 people and injury of another 80 in a stampede at the entrance of the Barea Stadium in Mahamasina, on the outskirts of the Malagasy capital, Antananarivo.

The cause of the stampede on the opening day of the Island Games holding in the Indian Ocean country was put down to the pressure exerted by the crowds trying to gain access into the 41,000 capacity stadium.

A Red Cross official, Antsa Mirado, who spoke to journalists during the evacuation process, said, “there were a lot of people at the entrance,” with all of them trying to enter the stadium at the same time.

Prime Minister Christian Ntsay, who visited the scene of the disaster along with some government delegates, said an investigation into the incident would begin in earnest, adding that the government would pay for the treatment of the wounded. President Andry Rajoelina, who was at the stadium at the time of the stampede, said it was a “tragic event”, and called for a minute’s silence.

The Indian Ocean Games, which started in 1977, is a multi-sport event held every four years with participants drawn from the island nations and territories of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, the Maldives and Réunion.

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Sports

South Africa’s FA president Danny Jordaan arrested on fraud, theft allegations

Published

21 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The President of South African Football Association (SAFA), Danny Jordaan, has been arrested on allegations of fraud and theft.

Jordaan, who was pivotal to the country hosting the first-ever FIFA World Cup tournament in Africa in 2010, is being accused of using about R1.3 million ($72,372) of SAFA funds to hire a PR firm and a private security company for his personal benefit.

His arrest follows a raid carried out by the country’s Special Investigating Unit (SPU) at the offices of SAFA in March where it was alleged that an assortment of electronic gadgets and files were seized for further investigation, thus leading to the arrest.

SA Police spokesperson, Katlego Mogale, who confirmed Jordaan’s arrest, told journalists that he was
arrested along with one other official and a businessman and are expected to appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Sports

Ghana Black Stars in disarray as 8 players withdraw from 2025 Afcon qualifiers

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The chances of the Black Stars of Ghana qualifying for the 2025 AFCON seems slimmer by the day with the withdrawal of eight first team players from the squad as the team prepares for crucial qualifiers against against Angola on November 15 in Luanda and against Niger at the Accra Sports Stadium on November 18.

The latest to pull out of the double headed qualifiers are Inaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo due to injuries, with the withdrawals forcing head coach Otto Addo, to scramble for last minute replacements to reshape his squad with little time to spare.

Other top stars who have withdrawn from the team are Thomas Partey, Tariq Lamptey and Jerome Opoku

Others are Jonas Adjetey, Alexander Djiku and Joseph Paintsil, all of whom have been sidelined due to injuries or personal reasons.

Ghana currently sits in third place in Group F with two points, trailing Angola, who leads with 12 points, and Sudan with seven points.

To stand any chance of qualifying, the Black Stars must win all their remaining matches and hope Sudan stumble in their final games.