Chelsea star Soloman Kalou would not have played in Ivory Coast's game against Malawi had he known the full scale of the tragedy beforehand. At least 130 people were injured and 19 killed in a stampede in Abidjan shortly before their World Cup qualifier last Sunday.

"If something like that had taken place in Europe I don't think the game would have taken place," he told Sky Sports News.

"As a player I wouldn't have been part of the game had I known that before.

"It wasn't just one or two people. Even if it was just one person I think a person's life is more important than a football game.

"I was really sad because those people could have been one of my family or friends.

"It's still people from my country and people to come to see me and my team play. I feel like it happened to one of my family.

"Everyone was sad and now we're trying to find a solution for the people who lost family members."