African Cup organizers change venues for 3 knockout games

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — African Cup of Nations organizers introduced Wednesday that they had been altering the venues for 2 quarterfinal video games and one of many semifinals.

One of many quarterfinals scheduled for Sunday was moved from the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde throughout city to the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium after eight individuals had been killed in a crush exterior the Olembe in the course of the round-of-16 sport between host Cameroon and Comoros on Monday. A complete of 38 others had been injured and 7 of them had been in severe situation within the hospital.

The Confederation of African Soccer had already indicated it will transfer that sport away from the Olembe.

However CAF additionally stated it was shifting one other quarterfinal and a semifinal from the Japoma Stadium in Douala to Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.

It gave no purpose for shifting these two video games however there have been complaints from groups over the state of the sector in Douala.

CAF didn’t announce a choice on the opposite semifinal, which is scheduled to happen on the Olembe Stadium. It stated it will rely on the findings of an investigation into the lethal stampede, which has been blamed on safety failings on the stadium. CAF stated it wanted to evaluation that report earlier than the semifinal might go forward on the Olembe subsequent Thursday. The Olembe’s internet hosting of the African Cup closing on Feb. 6 can also be doubtful and can rely on the outcomes of the investigation.

CAF stated it additionally requires “the reassurance and assure that applicable and ample interventions and measures have been applied to make sure that an identical incident won't happen on the Olembe Stadium.”

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