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African football disasters

3 February 2012-PA Sport

The crowd violence after an Egyptian league match between Al Masry and Al-Ahly that left more than 70 people dead and up to one thousand unjired is the latest in a series of stadium disasters to hit Africa over the last 12 years.

Here are some of the tragedies to strike the continent's football grounds.

Zimbabwe, July 9, 2000 - Tear gas was fired by police and 13 supporters died amid unrest at the Harare National Stadium during an international match between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

South Africa, April 11, 2001 - Mass overcrowding at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg at a derby match between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates led to 43 people being crushed to death. Some reports suggested as many as 120,000 people were admitted into a stadium which, at the time, had an official capacity of 60,000. The stadium was later renovated for use at the 2010 World Cup.

Ghana, May 9, 2001 - Police fired tear gas into the crowd after unrest at a match between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium resulting in mass panic and a stampede. The incident resulted in the deaths of 127 people, making it the worst disaster of its kind in Africa.

Democratic Republic of Congo, April 30, 2001 - Fourteen people were killed during a stampede at a match between Lupopo and Mazembe.

Zambia, June 3, 2007 - Twelve fans were killed in crushes at the end of Zambia's win over DR Congo in Lusaka. It came 11 years after a similar incident in the city in which nine died.

Ivory Coast, March 29, 2009 - A wall collapsed at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny before the start of a World Cup qualifier between Ivory Coast and and Malawi. The incident left a reported 22 people dead and more than 100 injured - but the match was allowed to go ahead with the Ivorians winning 5-0. Officials blamed a stampede of ticketless fans at the 45,000-capacity stadium.

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