Zurich - Football's ruling body FIFA asked Monday for a full report from the football federation of the Ivory Coast after 22 people died Sunday when a wall collapsed during a World Cup qualifying match between Ivory Coast and Malawi.

Tens of thousands of fans were packed into the Houphouet-Boigny stadium in Abidjan, the West African Nation's largest city, to watch Chelsea star and national hero Didier Drogba score twice in a 5-0 rout of Malawi.

However, tragedy struck when fans appear to have panicked following the collapse of a wall.

"On behalf of FIFA and the worldwide family of football, 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", said FIFA president Joseph Blatter.

"FIFA is in contact with the Federation Ivorienne de Football and have requested a full report from them, as well as the local authorities to establish the sequence of events that happened outside the stadium before the match.

"Once this report has been received, FIFA will be in a position to make further comment, as well as continue our efforts to ensure that such tragic circumstances do not happen again."

Desire Tagro, the nation's interior minister, said on state television that overcrowding caused a panic in the stadium, leading to the deaths and also causing injuries to over 100 people.

Police attempted to control the fans, although some reports suggested that they fired tear gas and worsened the panic. (dpa)