People came to the stadium without tickets
Ticketless fans were behind Sunday's stadium stampede that left 22 people dead in Ivory Coast, officials say.
The government has promised an inquiry into the tragedy which left 130 people injured at the Houphouet-Boigny arena in the biggest city, Abidjan.
Police tried to keep the crowds back with tear gas but a wall collapsed and in the panic fans were crushed.
Many casualties were treated at the stadium as the match went ahead and hosts Ivory Coast beat Malawi 5-0.
The national football association had told those without the prized tickets to stay away.
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 Some spectators who didn't have tickets tried to force their way in
 Dagobert Banzio
Sports Minister |
But thousands ignored the message hoping to see Ivory Coast's Europe-based football stars.
The big attraction was home-grown hero Didier Drogba, who is regarded almost as a demi-god by his countrymen, says BBC Ivory Coast correspondent John James.
The Chelsea striker - who had missed the previous round of qualifiers due to injury - scored twice, but the victory was overshadowed by what happened off the pitch.
'Extreme sorrow'
Fifa President Sepp Blatter said: "I wish to express extreme sorrow and extend our condolences to the Ivorian football community and, most importantly, to family, friends and loved ones following the tragic deaths in Abidjan yesterday."
Our correspondent says it seems many fans were angry when the gates were shut.
A crowd of supporters without tickets were reportedly pushing and shoving 40 minutes before the start of the game.
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Ivorian Sports Minister Dagobert Banzio said there seemed to be more people outside the 35,000-capacity stadium than inside.
"Some spectators who didn't have tickets tried to force their way in," he said.
"Unfortunately they broke down one of the big gates and in the stampede people were crushed."
The arena has just been refurbished but our correspondent says at this stage it seems the sheer number of people who wanted to get into the match proved too much.
Other Europe-based stars playing in Sunday's game were Drogba's Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou, as well as Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue of Arsenal.
The home side also featured Tottenham's Didier Zokora, Sevilla's Ndri Romaric and Marseille forward Bakari Kone.
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