Paynesville— Several sports fans were injured and others rendered unconscious following crowd trouble at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Complex during the grand finale of the 2025/2026 National County Sports Meet (NCSM) between Grand Kru and Nimba counties.
The incident occurred as thousands of Liberians trooped to the stadium for the highly anticipated final. Tensions flared at multiple entry points amid reports of overcrowding and restricted access, triggering panic and a stampede-like situation outside the gates.
Disturbing images circulating on social media show injured spectators lying on the ground, fueling concerns that the stadium could have become dangerously overcrowded if entry had not been restricted.
According to eyewitnesses, although the main bowl and surrounding areas of the complex were already near full capacity, large numbers of ticket-holding fans were denied entry by joint security personnel deployed at various gates. The situation escalated when frustrated supporters attempted to force their way into the stadium.
At some point, the crowd overwhelmed security personnel, causing several people to fall, sustain injuries, and lose consciousness. Both injured fans and security officers were rushed to the emergency medical unit established at the SKD.
To calm the situation, a Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) water truck was deployed to spray water on the crowd, helping to reduce tensions and disperse the gathering.
The SKD Sports Complex—Liberia’s only multi-purpose stadium—was constructed in 1986 and originally designed to accommodate 35,000 spectators. However, its capacity was reduced to 23,000 following the installation of bucket seats in 2020.
The incident stands in sharp contrast to the relatively low attendance recorded throughout most of this year’s tournament. Since the start of the second group stage, the stadium had been largely underutilized.
Earlier, Youth and Sports Minister Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu attributed the low turnout to stricter ticketing and entry controls, dismissing claims that economic hardship, poor publicity, the tournament’s new format, or protest-related controversies were responsible.
According to the minister, tighter enforcement against illegal entry and ticket fraud has prevented non-ticket holders from accessing the stadium—unlike previous years when monitoring systems were weak.
However, the overcrowding and injuries recorded on the final day have raised fresh questions among the public over crowd management, ticket distribution, and security preparedness for high-profile matches.
Established in 1956, the National County Sports Meet is Liberia’s most celebrated sporting festival, often described as the country’s version of the Olympics. Beyond competition, the tournament has long played a critical role in promoting national unity and social cohesion, drawing fans from across Liberia despite shifting interest levels in traditional football.
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