21-year-old Ivorian defender, Moustapha Sylla, has died following a heart attack during the game between Racing Club Abidjan and SOL FC at the Robert Champroux Stadium in Abidjan.
According to video footage, the left-back collapsed on Sunday after losing his balance and dropping to the ground near the centre circle before opposition players rushed to help him.
Officials decided to continue with the match in the Ivorian top flight after Sylla was taken off the field.
The president of the Ivorian club, Logossina Cissé, said, ‘Moustapha Sylla died Sunday night following an illness on the field during the match with Sol FC,’ AFP reports.
Sylla passed away during transport to the hospital. He had arrived in September and was only 21 years old.’
RC Abidjan wrote on its Twitter account: ‘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 club said Sylla’s funeral held on Monday at the municipal cemetery in Dabou, Ivory Coast.
Sylla joined RC Abidjan last September from Malian side Djoliba AC.