Africa Cup of Nations: Six Guinea fans die celebrating win over Gambia as country’s FA calls for calm
GUINEA’S football federation have called for calm after six supporters died celebrating their first Africa Cup of Nations victory.
Guinea beat Gambia 1-0 in the Ivory Coast on Friday evening in the second group game.
That sparked wild scenes back in their homeland as fans took to the roads of capital Conakry to celebrate in cars and motorbikes.
It has now sadly been announced that six people lost their lives during the wild party scenes.
Now the Guinean FA, Feguifoot, has pleaded with fans for calmness.
Feguifoot media manager Amadou Makadji told BBC Sport Africa: “What is important is that our fans and the public celebrate in a very measured fashion.
“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.”
Ex-star Pascal Feindouno, who was part of the Guinea team that reached three straight Afcon quarter-finals from 2004, also joined the plea.
He said: “I have a message to send to Guinean men and women.
“Rest assured that we will do something at the Nations Cup but we have learned something that will destabilise us.
“We learned there were deaths after the victory against the Gambia – we want this to stop because we are here to defend the colours of the country.
“Everything is going well for us at the moment so support the country but don’t do anything to kill each other or oneself. Stay calm – thank you.”
Supporters spilled on to the streets to party after Aguibou Camara scored the winner late to move Guinea into second in Group C with four points.
But three people died after two vehicles collided at high speed.
Meanwhile, several dozen others were injured in road accidents as reports claim that many fans drove around on car bonnets.
Guinea face group leaders Senegal on Tuesday to battle it out for top spot in the group.
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