Monrovia - Three soccer fans died on Sunday after a crowd surge at Liberia's main soccer stadium where the national side secured a place in the next round of the African qualifying group for the 2002 World Cup, officials said.
One person died jumping from a fence to escape the crush. The others were pronounced dead on arrival in hospital, where they had been taken after being crushed and asphyxiated, one official said.
Witnesses said that the match, in which Liberia drew 0-0 with Chad, continued during the incident. Liberia qualified 1-0 on aggregate after winning the first leg of the African zone first round qualifier.
The Samuel K Doe stadium in the capital Monrovia appeared to be packed well beyond its 35 000 capacity, witnesses and officials said. - Reuters