Moustapha Sylla, a 21-year-old defender playing in Côte d’Ivoire, has passed away after suffering a heart attack during a game for Racing Club d’Abidjan. The club announced the sad news late last night, via Twitter.
The player had collapsed on the pitch during a league game against SOL FC. He appeared to take several steps backwards before losing his balance near the centre-circle. Teammates and opposition players immediately called for the referee to stop the game.
Club president Logossina Cissé revealed to AFP that Sylla had died in the ambulance on his way to hospital. The player had only arrived at Racing last September from Malian side Djoliba AC.
Racing Club d’Abidjan were promoted to the first division of Ivorian football in the 2018/2019 season, and went on to win the league just one year later in 2020. Racing has had a partnership with OGC Nice in France’s Ligue 1, as pointed out by RMC, where it acts as a feeder club to provide African talents with the chance to play in Europe.
GFFN | Brendan Cox
