During the qualifying match for the next African Cup of Nations between the Cheetahs of Benin and the Lions of Senegal, at least two supporters died and around fifteen injured were rescued. While the vagueness remains on the circumstances of the tragedy at the General Mathieu Kérékou stadium, the prosecutor at the first class court of Cotonou has opened an investigation.
The opening of this investigation was announced on public service television on the evening of Sunday, June 18th, in part to correct the lack of information deplored by the Beninese.
The prosecutor’s press release confirms the death toll of two, with the clarification that one supporter died at the stadium and the second during his evacuation to hospital.
It is necessary to await the conclusions of the open investigation to know the exact circumstances. The prosecutor’s press release already reports that the incident occurred at the entrance to the stands: several supporters were said to have been taken ill with long-term loss of consciousness, according to its terms.
Consequently, the investigation will be continued by the commission of inquiry, which is composed, based on information, of heads of a judicial police unit whose mission is to hear from all of the people involved in the match’s organization, to obtain relevant documents, and to determine how many victims, deaths, and injuries there were.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the officers of the judicial police need to provide their conclusions as soon as possible.