On August 13, 1979, tragedy struck after the Challenge Cup semi-final between IICC Shooting Stars and Bendel Insurance. The Shooting Stars won 2-1, avenging their loss to Bendel the previous year.
However, their victory turned to sorrow when 24 fans died in a stampede at the Lagos stadium. The chaos began when the floodlights were suddenly turned off, prompting the tightly packed crowd to rush towards the exits. Unknown to them, two main gates were still locked, leading to a deadly crush.
The National Sports Commission's medical center was closed, and ambulances were unavailable, worsening the situation. Apart from the 24 fans who died, many others were seriously injured and rushed to hospital for treatment. The incident remains a major tragedy in Nigerian sports history to date.
Celine Dion Announces Break from Music
Similarly, on this day in 2014, Céline Dion announced the cancellation of all upcoming concerts, including a major tour, to care for her husband, René Angélil, and other issues. Angélil, who had a cancerous tumor removed in December, remains Dion's primary concern, but she was also battling a throat condition that had kept her from performing since.
The indefinite break stopped her Las Vegas residency and a tour of Asia in the Fall. Dion apologised to her fans for the inconveniences and thanked them for their support during that challenging time. Sadly, her husband passes away barely two years later in 2016.
Other key events on this day
1. Microsoft released Internet Explorer 3.0 - 1996
2. Berlin was divided - 1961
3. Former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro was born - 1926
4. Adolf Hitler refused President von Hindenburg's proposal to become Vice-Chancellor of Germany - 1932
5. First Woman enlisted in the United States Marines - 1918
6. English Footballer, Alan Shearer was born - 1970
7. Israeli and Palestinian cease fire extended for another 120 hours time for more negotiations - 2014
8. Swedish Prosecutors announced they were dropping allegations against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange - 2015.
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