It’s sickening having to report another young, fit footballer collapsing on the pitch due to cardiac arrest.
Yet, that’s what transpired on Saturday with the sudden heart attack of Al Wakrah defender Ousmane Coulibaly in the Qatar Stars League.
Coulibaly, the Malian star who formerly played for Greece side Panathinaikos, collapsed in the 41st minute in a game against Al Rayyan.
The 32-year-old ran back to his own goal to defend a shot attempt from Al Rayyan player James Rodriguez when he suddenly collapsed between the posts of his own goal.
Graphic footage of the incident shows Coulibaly twitching and completely unconscious as medical personnel and teammates raced to help him.
Players from both sides appeared visibly shaken from Coulibaly’s collapse and officials ended the match.
https://twitter.com/Nosferatrue/status/1479890424387051526
https://twitter.com/CyprusNik/status/1479935791015018500
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFYyFof25OE
Mali star Ousmane Coulibaly suffers heart attack on pitch https://t.co/X65DL0c0nM pic.twitter.com/2I3RwDp8wh
— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) January 8, 2022
En la liga de Qatar el jugador Ousmane Coulibaly colapsó en medio de un partido. Los médicos pudieron salvarlo y por ahora está estable.
¿Que está pasando en el fútbol? Les juro que día por medio hay una noticia así y no recuerdo que antes pasase tan seguido. pic.twitter.com/mVZmcaPajZ
— Nahuel Lanzón (@nahuelzn) January 8, 2022
🇶🇦 #QNB: 32-year-old French defender of Al-Wakrah, Ousmane Coulibaly, collapsed just before the break in ghe game against Al-Rayyan. The medical staff at ghe hospital managed to revive him and he is recovering. The game was immediately suspended amd will be renewed in another day pic.twitter.com/vbbzLwj0ng
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) January 8, 2022
The Sun reported:
But in horrifying scenes, Coulibaly, 32, collapsed late in the first half.
Panicked medics rushed onto the pitch with the game temporarily halted.
After realising the severity of the issue, the match was eventually abandoned, awarded as a 1-0 win for Al Rayyan, the scoreline at the time of Coulibaly’s collapse.
After the game, a league statement confirmed Coulibaly – who spent 12 years playing in Europe – had suffered a heart attack.
“It may be noted that the player is currently receiving necessary medical care and attention.
The Peninsula added:
“We wish safety of Al Wakra club player Othman Coulibaly.. with our prayers for a speedy recovery and a speedy return,” Qatar Football Federation said.
Later, Al Kaas presenter Khaled Jassim said in a tweet that Othman Coulibaly is fine now and the medical staff took necessary measures after the incident.
Bein Sports also announced that Al Wakra player Othman Coulibaly is alive and his health condition is improving.
Watch additional footage provided by The COVID World:
Coulibaly is the latest footballer to suffer cardiac arrest during training or on the pitch.
Arabic leagues were already shaken by the recent collapse of Omani player Mukhaled Al-Raqadi.
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