An African footballer has died after reportedly suffering a heart attack whilst playing in the Algerian second-tier on Saturday.
Sofiane Lokar, 30, was pronounced dead on Christmas day whilst turning out for Mouloudia Saida in a harrowing incident that left his teammates in utter disbelief.
According to reports in Algerian media, Lokar suffered an injury midway through the opening half after colliding with his own goalkeeper in their league clash against ASM Oran.
After being treated on the sidelines for his head injury, the player was cleared to return to the field of play but 10 minutes later he collapsed on the field before paramedics rushed to his aid – where they failed to resuscitate him.
“Deeply saddened and shocked,” Ali Malek, the president of the National Algerian Football League, said on Channel 3 on Saturday evening.
“I am very downcast, it is tragic that a young person can succumb to a shock on a football field.”
He become the latest footballer to pass away through alleged heart problems this past month with Croatian defender Marin Cacic (23) and Oman international defender Mukhaled Al-Raqadi (29).
