At least seventeen football fans have been confirmed dead following a tragic stampede in an Angolan first division league match on Friday.
Santa Rita de Cassia were hosting Recreativo do Libolo at a football stadium in the northern Angolan city of Uige.
Media reports indicate that the stampede was caused by a throng of fans who forced their way into the 8000- capacity stadium.
“Scores were severely injured and admitted. The country’s president Jose Eduardo dos Santos has condoled with the affected families and immediately ordered a thorough investigations,” Luanda-based Angop news agency reported.
Recreative De Libolo also passed their message of condolence to Santa Rita and their fans in an official statement posted on the social media pages.
They further urged clubs to “work more and better, in order to provide spectators more and better conditions of access to sports.”