A tragic scene unfolded in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, as a TP Mazembe fan was killed during the heated Linafoot derby against FC Saint-Etoi Lupopo in Lubumbashi.
According to a statement released by the five-time African champions on Monday, the supporter was struck in the head with a machete during the match held at the Frederic Kibassa-Maliba Stadium. Despite being rushed to the stadium’s medical center, he succumbed to his injuries before being taken to the Kenya Hospital morgue for official identification by his family and authorities.
“TP Mazembe expresses its deep sadness following the death of one of its supporters,” the club said in the statement. “TPM strongly condemns this act of violence, which goes against the spirit and values of sport, and calls on the authorities to thoroughly investigate this tragedy.”
Club president Moise Katumbi also extended his condolences to the victim’s family and the Mazembe fan base.
The derby itself ended 2–1 in favor of Lupopo, who came from behind to claim victory with Ravel Djoumekou’s late strike in the 87th minute. The goal sparked wild celebrations among home fans, while Mazembe supporters clashed among themselves, tearing out stadium seats and hurling them onto the pitch.
It remains unclear whether the fan was directly attacked or accidentally struck by a thrown weapon. ESPN reported receiving disturbing footage from the scene, showing the deceased in a Mazembe jersey with a head wound, as well as other injured supporters being treated at the stadium.
The incident adds to Africa’s troubling record of football-related violence, which has claimed lives across several nations, including South Africa, Malawi, Senegal, and Madagascar. The continent’s worst football tragedy remains the 2001 Accra Sports Stadium disaster in Ghana, where 127 fans died after police fired tear gas into the crowd.
