Cameroon footballer dies on pitch after heart attack

Cameroon midfielder Patrick Ekeng has died after collapsing on the pitch during a match for his club in Romania.

The 26-year-old fell to the ground shortly after coming on as a 62nd-minute substitute for Dinamo Bucharest during a league match against Viitorul Constanta, his club said in a statement on their website.

Media reports said he suffered a suspected heart attack and was pronounced dead in hospital two hours later.

‘Dinamo lost tonight, forever, footballer Patrick Claude Ekeng,’ Dinamo said.

‘On behalf of everyone at Dinamo, sincere condolences to the bereaved family. God rest his soul.’

The Cameroon FA also confirmed the news on Twitter, while Ekeng’s former club Cordoba tweeted: ‘There are no words to express our sorrow for the death of Patrick Ekeng.’

Ekeng had also played for Le Mans in France, as well as Swiss club Lausanne.