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 [WORLD
CUP 2010 QUALIFYING] Tragedy
struck on the opening weekend of play in
the second round of World Cup 2010
qualifying in Africa when at least eight
fans died of suffocation in a rush to
enter an overcrowded Samuel K. Doe
Stadium in the Liberian capital of
Monrovia, where the Lone Star hosted
Gambia on Sunday.
According to reports, the trouble was
caused by the sale of fraudulent tickets
that left many fans who had legitimately
bought tickets unable to enter the
stadium, whose gates were closed by
United Nations peacekeepers, stationed
in Liberia since the end of the
country's civil war, more than two hours
before kickoff when they realized the
stadium was already beyond capacity.
Fans were crushed and suffocated in
melees outside the gates.
The game went ahead, and Liberia and
Gambia played to a 1-1 tie. D.C.
United's
Francis Doe came on as a
substitute for Liberia. New England
Revolution forward
Kenny Mansally was on the Gambia bench.
The big surprise of the first day was
Burkina's 2-1 win at Tunisia.
Yssouf
Kone scored twice in the last
nine minutes for the win.
The biggest win was recorded by Malawi's
Flames, who crushed Djibouti, 8-1, only
10 days after its coach, former New York
area coach
Stephen
Constantine, quit and was
replaced by
Kinnah
Phiri
Source: SoccerAmerica
Monday, Jun 2, 2008
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