Cameroonian and Algeria’s JS Kabylie FC striker, Albert Ebosse, has died after being hit on the head by a stone thrown by spectators during a game in Algeria Saturday.
The player was pelted following a 2-1 lead to USM Alger, and died on the way to the hospital.
The Cameroonian forward had scored for his side before he was attacked.
JS Kabylie captain Ali Rial said Ebosse died in his arms as he accompanied him to the hospital in the ambulance.
“I’m depressed, it’s real drama and I do not know if I’ll get over it,” he was quoted by Goal.com as saying. “He died in my arms, I still cannot believe we have lost him forever. He was a good man, God rest his soul.”
The Algerian Minister of Interior and Local Government, Tayeb Belaiz, has ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Ebosse was the leading scorer in the Algerian league in the 2013-14 season, with 17 goals.
A special meeting of the Algerian league (LFP) has been convened for Monday morning and the stadium has been closed until further notice, the BBC reported.
The president of the Confederation of African Football, Issa Hayatou, issued a statement condemning the violence.
“My thoughts go out to the family and friends of this young man who enjoyed his job peacefully and went further to pursue his passion for football abroad,” wrote Hayatou.
He added: “African football cannot be the breeding ground for hooliganism whatsoever. We expect exemplary sanctions to be taken against this grave act of violence.”
