Guinea Disaster: Three die in stampede for tickets

Eye witnesses said the three who died had been trampled in a crush as a crowd of 35,00 sought to gain entry to the derelict September 22 stadium in the Guinean capital.

In Monrovia, Ivorian referee Aboubacar Sharaf twice stopped the Group 1 match between Liberia and Senegal after fans pelted objects on to the pitch as the home side conceded two second-half goals in a 3-0 defeat.

There was a brief stoppage after Senegal’s second goal scored by Henri Camara and when the Celtic striker scored their third 15 minutes from time spectators again rioted forcing a delay of almost 30 minutes.

Senegal’s away win kept them top of the standings, although only on goal difference from Togo and Zambia.

Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor scored early to ensure Togo beat Mali 1-0 in Lome, while Collins Mbesuma grabbed a hat-trick in Zambia’s 3-2 away triumph over Congo in Brazzaville.

Mbesuma put Zambia three goals ahead before Congo staged a late fight back to reduce the deficit with a double strike from Armel Mamouna-Ossila.

Ivory Coast took a two-point lead in Group Three after Aruna Dindane got the only goal in their 1-0 away win over Benin in Cotonou. The Ivorians, emerging as the form team of African football, benefited from setbacks for their closest rivals Cameroon and Egypt over the weekend.

Egypt lost 2-1 in Libya on Friday, while Cameroon scrambled a last-gasp equaliser for a 1-1 draw with Sudan on Saturday.

Benni McCarthy’s penalty midway through the second half gave South Africa a 1-0 away win over Uganda in Kampala to put them top of Group 2. (Reuters)