46 Zambian soccer fans injured in victory celebrations

Over 40 casualty cases were recorded Wednesday night at Zambia’s University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after post-match celebrations turned violent and unruly, hospital authorities said.



Emmanuel Mayuka's lone goal inspired and ignited the victory celebrations across Zambia. PHOTO: mtnfootball.com


UTH said it had treated 46 casualties who were injured after Zambia national soccer team – “Chipolopolo” – beat Ghana’s “Black Stars” to advance to the finals of the on-going African Nations Cup tournament co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

“Out of these 13 are assault cases while 33 are Road Traffic Accidents,” hospital officials said.

And residents of a high density suburb south west of the capital Lusaka torched a motor vehicle after it ran over a person celebrating Zambia’s 1:0 win over Ghana.

Three people have so far been killed in post-match celebrations that are mostly characterized by heavy alcohol intake, careless driving and loud blowing of South African popularized local trumpets – “Vuvuzelas”

Zambia will face Ivory Coast over the weekend for the top prize while Ghana and Mali will battle it out for third and fourth positions.