Gabonese local media have reported that a football playing in the country’s first division had slumped during a match on Saturday and was declared dead shortly afterward. Herman Tsinga had played as a striker for the first division side, Akanda FC.
Records show that this is the seventh of such incidents in the last 12 years experienced by the Gabonese Football Federation, FEGAFOOT. The striker collapsed at the edge of the center circle in a match against Missile FC on Saturday. He slumped in the twenty-third minute of the game.
Tsinga had received a cardiac massage from a military doctor on duty but passed away on his way to the hospital. A video recorded by an amateur during the incident showed serious panic and confusion among the officials when the player collapsed.
Reports also reveal that none of the ambulances on-ground had a defibrillator or oxygen mask to restore stability to the player on his way to the hospital.
The league had taken an 8-month break before Gabon Oil Company agreed to finance the competition. The match between Akanda FC and Missile FC was part of the second round of the competition.
