Ivory Coast footballer Moustapha Sylla has died at age 21 following a heart attack on the football pitch.
The defender collapsed during the game between his club, Racing Club Abidjan, and SOL FC at the Robert Champroux Stadium in Abidjan on Sunday.
Video footage showed the left-back losing his balance and dropping to the ground near the centre circle before opposition players rushed to help him.
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Officials decided to continue with the match in the Ivorian top flight after he was taken off the field. He had passed away while being transported to the hospital.
The incident was confirmed by the president of the Ivorian club, Logossina Cissé
“Moustapha Sylla died Sunday night following an illness on the field during the match with Sol FC.
“Sylla passed away during transport to the hospital. He had arrived in September and was only 21 years old.”
Also, his club, RC Abidjan wrote about the incident on its twitter.
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“Our defender Sylla Moustapha died this evening after an illness on the pitch. Management sends sincere condolences to his family. Rest in peace Moustapha. Rest in peace LION.”
The Ivorian Football Federation offered condolences to Sylla’s family and everyone at Racing Club Abidjan in ‘this moment of pain’.
Sylla joined RC Abidjan last September from Malian side Djoliba AC.
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Photo Credit: Getty
