Liberia: 1: Gambia: 1; World: -10

On my first day in Liberia, I attended a World Cup qualifying match in Monrovia, the capital. It took place at the Samuel K. Doe Stadium, where thousands of fans flocked to watch the much-anticipated game. The National Anthem was moving—over tens of thousands people singing in unison after 14 years of division. The game was exciting and ended tied: 1 to 1.

But the drama of the game was not on the field but outside—where 10 Liberians were killed (12 others are in critical condition). Reports vary on how they died: trampled, suffocation, crushed by a felled gate, falling, exhaustion, before the game, during the game, etc., and FIFA is launching an investigation.

We did not learn about this tragedy until late the next day, but it was not surprising. It had been chaotic on the way in, with United Nations Peacekeepers everywhere trying to keep order (they’re the only ones allowed to possess guns in this country). The all-female Indian Peacekeeping Force was guarding the stadium gates, along with Nigerian Peacekeepers. They closed the gates more than 2 hours before the game when they learned that the stadium was over-capacity, in part because of thousands of fraudulent tickets (meant to hold 33,000, it was brimming with well over 40,000).

Closer to home, Debourah “Ma Dee” with whom I work at the Ministry of Gender and Development, had a nephew who died at the stadium. In tears at work on Tuesday morning, she told me about her 20-year-old Ibro. They buried him on Wednesday, and she has been quite sad ever since. At home, my mother read the news from Monrovia and shuddered, knowing I had been there. My heart has been heavy since.

Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf pronounced a period of mourning (this weekend) and there was a moment of silence midday on Tuesday.

It is a true tragedy, and it certainly put a damper on our feelings about the game. It was a good reminder that crowds are scary and that anything, anywhere can happen.