Cameroon and Dinamo Bucharest midfielder Patrick Ekeng has died of a suspected heart attack after collapsing on the pitch.


The 26-year-old fell to the floor in the 70th minute of a televised Romanian league match between Dinamo and Viitorul. According to Romanian broadcaster Digisport, there was no resuscitation kit/equipment in the ambulance that transported Ekeng to the hospital, one minute away, but instead cardiac massage was performed.


The player was pronounced dead two hours later. Ekeng’s former club Cordoba tweeted: “We have no words to express our sadness at the loss.”


The Cameroonian FA confirmed the sad news on a social media platform. Ekeng had also previously played for Le Mans and Lausanne. Recall that on 26 June 2003, Cameroon and the entire football world lost Marc Vivien Foe during a Confederations Cup match in France. In the 72nd minute of the game, Foé collapsed in the centre circle, with no other player near him.



After attempts to resuscitate him on the pitch, he was stretchered off the field, where he received mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and oxygen.


Medics spent 45 minutes attempting to restart his heart, and although he was still alive upon arrival at the stadium’s medical centre he died shortly afterwards.