After a player died after a match in the top division, Didier Drogba, a Chelsea great, asked for more medical examinations to safeguard athletes in his native Ivory Coast.
Moustapha Sylla, a 21-year-old defender for Racing Club d’Abidjan (RCA), passed away on the route to the hospital on Sunday after collapsing during the game against SOL FC.
Sylla is seen tripping in the incident video before losing his footing and collapsing to the ground unmoving close to the center circle, forcing the opposition players to shout for help.
Sylla was referred to as a “rising star that went too soon” by RCA president Logossina Cisse, and the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) led tributes on social media.
“In this moment of pain and emotion, FIF extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, to the managers and players of RCA, as well as to the Ivorian football family,” FIF wrote on Facebook.
The tragic loss of such a young person “who showed promise on the football field,” according to Confederation of African Football President Patrice Motsepe, shocked him as well.
At Djoliba AC, Sylla won the Malian championship in 2022 before joining RCA in September.
What When Will Sports Medicine Come?
Former Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba requested that football officials provide players with additional medical protection in response to the death.
“Condolences to Ivorian football,” wrote Drogba, who last year lost a bid to run football in Ivory Coast and whose international team-mate Cheick Tiote died following a cardiac arrest in China back in 2017.
“Three deaths of Ivorian professional league players in less than four years.
“Where are the compulsory medical visits for each professional player? The blood tests, the ECGs, the stress tests? When will sports medicine arrive?”
In South Africa, A Death
South African football supporters are also mourning the loss of a star player at the moment.
Siphamandla Mtolo, a midfielder for Richards Bay, passed out on Tuesday during practice.
The Premier Division team, which is sixth in the standings right now, has stated that they would issue another statement as soon as possible.
