PAUL BIYA

Cameroon authorities have blamed a deadly stadium crush at the African Cup of Nations soccer tournament on a “massive” influx of ticketless fans who arrived late to the game and forced their way in.

The apparent stampede outside of a stadium in Cameroon has renewed the focus on prior warnings that the nation was ill-equipped to host the continent's biggest sporting event.

The death toll has risen to eight following a crush outside a game at the African Cup of Nations soccer tournament in Cameroon.

Cameroon African Cup Soccer A man standing outside a newly build Olembe stadium in Yaoundé at, Cameroon, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022. The African Cup of Nations takes place in Cameroon and starts on Sunday, Jan. 9. The crush happened as crowds struggled to get access to Olembe Stadium in the capital city of Yaounde to watch the host country play Comoros in a last 16 knockout game in the African Cup of Nations. The Confederation of African Football, which runs the African Cup, said in a statement it was aware of the incident. Cameroon is hosting the African Cup for the first time in 50 years.

A local government official in Cameroon says at least six people have died in a crush outside a stadium hosting a game at Africa's top soccer tournament.

Authorities in Cameroon say at least 17 people have died and seven others are seriously injured after a fire broke out at a nightclub and spread to an area where cooking gas was stored.

Cameroon African Cup Soccer Cameroon's captain Vincent Aboubakar celebrates his second goal of the match, during the African Cup of Nations 2022 group A soccer match between Cameroon and Burkina Faso at the Olembe stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. It seemed the wait wouldn't be worth it when Gustavo Sangaré volleyed Burkina Faso into the lead in the 24th minute. But Burkina Faso lost the lead with two reckless pieces of defending in the closing minutes of the first half. VAR is being used in all games at the African Cup for the first time. Yet this African Cup has been the target of more skepticism than most.

Cameroon African Cup Soccer Cameroon's captain Vincent Aboubakar celebrates his second goal of the match, during the African Cup of Nations 2022 group A soccer match between Cameroon and Burkina Faso at the Olembe stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. But Burkina Faso lost the lead with two reckless pieces of defending at the end of the first half. VAR is being used in all games at the African Cup for the first time. It was used from the quarterfinals onwards at the last African Cup. The African Cup officially started with a short opening ceremony a few hours earlier at Olembe Stadium.

Cameroon African Cup Soccer Traditional dancers perform during opening ceremony of the African Cup of Nations 2022 group A soccer match between Cameroon and Burkina Faso at the Olembe stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. He said it would be the best African Cup ever. Motsepe will oversee his first African Cup after the South African mining billionaire surprisingly rose to the position of head of African soccer last year because of the backing of Infantino. This African Cup has been the target of more skepticism than most after organizers insisted they would go ahead with a soccer showpiece amid the omicron-driven surge. Cameroon will play Burkina Faso in the first game straight after the opening ceremony.

Host Cameroon came from behind to beat Burkina Faso 2-1 in the opening game of the African Cup of Nations.

“Women are powerful, more than any creature on Earth,” said Agnes Taile, a Cameroonian journalist turned Central Florida-based African fashion designer.