10 African footballers who died while playing football
When sitting at the comfort of our home, watching Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi dribble past two or more defenders with relative ease. We see them as Gods or machines will will evade any damage that come their way. We tend to forget that these sportsmen are humans like us, humans with soul and bones in their body. Go to a match viewing center here in Nigeria you will hear fans shouting ''break em leg'', if you miss the ball don't miss the leg''. This is being said because they think that footballers have just injuries and nothing more. They do not know that all humans are not equal. A minor tackle can do a lot of damage to a player, while the same degree of tackle will be carried out on that player yet the player will go unscathed.
Without much ado, here are ten African players who died while playing the sport they loved.
1. Samuel Okwaraji
He was a Nigerian international footballer who had a masters from the university of rome. He collapsed and died of congestive heart failure in the 77th minute of a World Cup qualification match against Angola on August 12, 1989, at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos State.
2. Marc-Vivien Foe
The Cameroonian professional footballer collapsed while playing in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final between his country and Colombia, and died shortly afterward in hospital on June 26, 2003.
The cause of death has not been confirmed, but it is believed he suffered a heart attack.
3. Moise Brou Apanga
The Ivory Coast-born Gabonese football defender died on April 26, 2017, having suffered a heart attack while training with his club side FC 105 Libreville.
4.Ben Idrissa Derme:
He was a Burkinabe international footballer who played as a centre-half. He died on September 11, 2016, following a heart attack during the 2016–17 Coupe de France match.
5.Patrick Claude Ekeng Ekeng:
He played as a defensive midfielder for Cameroonian national team. He had brief spells in Switzerland, Spain, and Romania, where he died on May 6, 2016, after collapsing in a match for Dinamo București.
6. David Faramola Oniya:
The Nigerian footballer played for Malaysia Premier League club T-Team as a defender.
He died on June 13, 2015, after collapsing on the pitch in Malaysia during a friendly between his club and Kelantan.
7. Emmanuel Ogoli:
He was a Nigerian professional footballer who played as a left back. On December 12, 2010, the former Bayelsa United and Ocean Boys player collapsed on the pitch while playing for Ocean Boys, and died later in hospital.
8. Victor Omogbehin:
The 22-year-old Nigerian collapsed during a league match on August 18, 2010. He played in the Isthmian Football League game from Ilford F.C. against the Lowestoft Town FC.
9.Endurance Idahor:
The 25-year-old former Al-Merreikh player collapsed during a match between his Sudanese club and Alamal Atbara, and later died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital on March 6, 2010.
10.Chieck Tiote
Born in the Ivory Coast, Tiote was part of the Ivorian squad that won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
He began his professional career in Belgium with Anderlecht in 2005 before moving to Dutch side FC Twente, where he made 86 appearances and won the Eredivisie league title in the 2009-10 season under manager Steve McClaren.
He moved to Newcastle United where he scored a memorable against arsenal to draw a game which they were 4-0 down. He moved to Beijing Enterprise in China where he collapsed during training and did not survive.
Without much ado, here are ten African players who died while playing the sport they loved.
1. Samuel Okwaraji
| A statue was erected in honour of the late Sam Okwaraji |
He was a Nigerian international footballer who had a masters from the university of rome. He collapsed and died of congestive heart failure in the 77th minute of a World Cup qualification match against Angola on August 12, 1989, at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos State.
2. Marc-Vivien Foe
The Cameroonian professional footballer collapsed while playing in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final between his country and Colombia, and died shortly afterward in hospital on June 26, 2003.
The cause of death has not been confirmed, but it is believed he suffered a heart attack.
3. Moise Brou Apanga
The Ivory Coast-born Gabonese football defender died on April 26, 2017, having suffered a heart attack while training with his club side FC 105 Libreville.
4.Ben Idrissa Derme:
He was a Burkinabe international footballer who played as a centre-half. He died on September 11, 2016, following a heart attack during the 2016–17 Coupe de France match.
5.Patrick Claude Ekeng Ekeng:
He played as a defensive midfielder for Cameroonian national team. He had brief spells in Switzerland, Spain, and Romania, where he died on May 6, 2016, after collapsing in a match for Dinamo București.
6. David Faramola Oniya:
The Nigerian footballer played for Malaysia Premier League club T-Team as a defender.
He died on June 13, 2015, after collapsing on the pitch in Malaysia during a friendly between his club and Kelantan.
7. Emmanuel Ogoli:
He was a Nigerian professional footballer who played as a left back. On December 12, 2010, the former Bayelsa United and Ocean Boys player collapsed on the pitch while playing for Ocean Boys, and died later in hospital.
8. Victor Omogbehin:
The 22-year-old Nigerian collapsed during a league match on August 18, 2010. He played in the Isthmian Football League game from Ilford F.C. against the Lowestoft Town FC.
9.Endurance Idahor:
The 25-year-old former Al-Merreikh player collapsed during a match between his Sudanese club and Alamal Atbara, and later died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital on March 6, 2010.
10.Chieck Tiote
Born in the Ivory Coast, Tiote was part of the Ivorian squad that won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
He began his professional career in Belgium with Anderlecht in 2005 before moving to Dutch side FC Twente, where he made 86 appearances and won the Eredivisie league title in the 2009-10 season under manager Steve McClaren.
He moved to Newcastle United where he scored a memorable against arsenal to draw a game which they were 4-0 down. He moved to Beijing Enterprise in China where he collapsed during training and did not survive.
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