A footballer has tragically died at the age of 21 after suffering a heart attack during an Ivorian First Division game.
Moustapha Sylla fell to the ground as his club, Racing Club d’Abidjan faced Sol FC in a league game on Sunday, which they won 3-1.
Shocking video footage from Ivory Coast shows the left-back defender taking several steps backwards before losing his footing and falling near the center of the circle.
Frightened teammates and players immediately called the referee to end the game. Club president Lugosina Cisse confirmed to AFP that the 21-year-old died in an ambulance as emergency services rushed to try to save his life.
“While he was being taken to the hospital, Mostafa died,” said Sissi. He joined the club last September and was just 21 years old.
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On Facebook, the Ivorian Football Federation paid tribute, as a post read: The President of the Ivorian Football Federation and his executive committee regret to announce the death of player Moustapha Sylla, left-back of the Racing Club of Abidjan, on Sunday, March 5, 2023, after falling on the lawn of the Robert Champroux stadium, during the match. Urgently transported to a hospital center, the 21-year-old player unfortunately succumbed to his discomfort.
RC Abidjan added in a statement posted on their Twitter page: “Our defender Moustapha Sylla died this evening following an illness on the pitch during the RCA vs Sol FC match. Management sends sincere condolences to the family.”
Sylla joined Abidjan from Djoliba AC in Mali last September. The Ivorian club became national champions in 2020, just a year after winning the first division and currently sits seventh in the league table.
RC Abidjan have joined forces with French club Nice, who act as a feeder club for the Ligue 1 side, to offer talented African players a route to Europe. Shirt sponsor INEOS – the chemicals company founded by Manchester-born entrepreneur Sir Jim Ratcliffe – is the same as Ness.
