Youssou Diouf dies after sudden collapse at Thiès stadium
youssou diouf, a 20-year-old forward for AS Saloum, died Sunday night after suffering a sudden malaise at the Maniang Soumaré stadium in Thiès at the end of the Ligue 2 match against AS Amitié that finished 0-0 in the 16th day of the championship. The Ligue de football sénégalaise (LSFP) and the minister of Youth and Sports immediately responded and have promised an inquiry into the circumstances.
Youssou Diouf fell ill after the final whistle
The LSFP said the player had taken part in the match between Amitié FC and AS Saloum and played about twenty minutes. He was on the bench when he was struck by a sudden malaise right after the final whistle; he was not fasting at the time. Emergency responders intervened rapidly, but the player did not survive the episode.
Malaise at Maniang Soumaré in Thiès
The incident occurred Sunday night at the Maniang Soumaré stadium in Thiès following the goalless draw between AS Saloum and AS Amitié, a fixture counted for the 16th day of the Senegalese Ligue 2 championship. The match ended 0-0, and the collapse happened in the moments after play had finished.
Reaction in Kaolack and across Senegal
The sudden death produced an immediate shock in the stadium stands and then across the country. In Kaolack, the home base of AS Saloum, consternation is total: teammates, club officials and supporters are struggling to accept the loss of one of their own. On social networks and in sports circles, tributes multiplied, praising the memory of a committed forward known for his determination and attachment to the club jersey. Beyond AS Saloum, Senegalese football mourns a young talent cut down in the middle of the season.
LSFP and minister promise an investigation
Khady Diène Gaye, the minister of Youth and Sports, described the death as "a painful ordeal that shakes the entire sporting family" and added a prayerful wish that "the Almighty receive him in His mercy and grant him eternal rest. " The LSFP said it will work with the competent authorities to bring full light to the exact circumstances of the death of Youssou Diouf and expressed its support to the club and the family of the deceased.
The next confirmed step is the joint inquiry the LSFP will conduct with competent authorities to establish the circumstances around the player’s sudden malaise and death; the federation has also offered support to AS Saloum and the family during that process.
