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CONAKRY, Guinea — An anguished Kambaly Kouroumah is desperately searching for his younger brother, Adama, at a morgue in Nzerekore, a city in southern Guinea, following a tragic event where numerous lives were lost at a crowded stadium during a soccer final.
Kouroumah is among many families desperately looking for their missing loved ones after the chaotic incident unfolded on Sunday during a tournament final honoring military leader Mamadi Doumbouya.
Official reports state that 56 individuals have died as a result of the stampede; however, the Collective of Human Rights Organizations in the Nzerekore area suggests the true number could be as high as 135.
Over 50 individuals are still unaccounted for, including 15-year-old Adama, who was described as “everything” to his heartbroken brother.

“I want to see him now, dead or alive,” Kouroumah lamented.
This recent sports tragedy occurred at the Third of April stadium during the final of a tournament celebrating Doumbouya, who seized control of the country from its elected president three years ago, marking a continuing trend of military coups in West Africa.
Enthusiasm for soccer in Guinea runs deep, especially as the nation aspires to qualify for its first World Cup and achieve victory in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The two-week tournament in Nzerekore attracted a diverse crowd, including many children, who came to support their local teams.

Witnesses and local media report that chaos erupted after spectators protested a controversial penalty decision by the referee by throwing stones onto the field.
In response, security forces deployed tear gas, causing a panic as fans rushed onto the pitch, according to survivors’ accounts.
While some spectators managed to escape by climbing over the high stadium fence, shocking videos from the scene depicted many others struggling to navigate through the main entrance, leading to a tragic crush as the crowd surged.
Cries for help filled the air as fans were trampled in the turmoil.

The tragedy also claimed the life of 15-year-old Jaquerine Keba Koévogui, whose father recounted her rare visits to the stadium, preferring to watch games on television instead.
“My daughter was with other family members, mostly boys who could jump over the walls while she tried to escape through the entrance,” said Jules Koevogui, 42.
For Mamadou Sanoh, the search for his 10-year-old son ended in heartbreak when he identified his child’s body at the morgue.
“I cannot express the shock and grief I feel,” Sanoh stated.

The opposition coalition, National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy, has criticized the tournament as a means for the junta leader to gain political support in ways that they deem “illegal and inappropriate.”
While video footage showed a packed stadium, local sports journalist Cissé Lancine estimated attendance was between 20,000 to 30,000 spectators.
The coalition has condemned the use of tear gas and accused security forces of blocking stadium exits with their vehicles.
In response to the tragedy, flags across Conakry and various regions remain at half-mast as the country observes three days of mourning.

Human rights organizations in Nzerekore are calling for the organizers of the tournament to be held accountable for the disaster.
Authorities have announced that an investigation is underway, placing increasing pressure on Doumbouya, whose administration has struggled to address the economic and political issues that the previous government faced since his power grab in 2021.
The United Nations in Guinea has pledged swift action to provide humanitarian, medical, and psychological assistance to those affected by the disaster.
“This tragedy serves as a devastating reminder of the paramount need for safety in public gatherings,” the UN stated in a recent announcement.

As families grieve, they are left with lingering questions and a desire to prevent such incidents in the future.
“We must now keep our children away from large gatherings and demonstrations,” stated Joel Gbamou, a civil activist who tragically lost both of his sons in the calamity.

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