Ghanaian defender, Gideon Mensah was seen among the players keen on helping out and calling out to the medical team to rush unto the pitch after his Bordeaux teammate, Nigerian striker Samuel Kalu collapsed on the pitch in a French Ligue 1 game at Marseille on Sunday where temperatures hit a sweltering 30 degrees.
The 23-year-old Nigerian international fainted and slumped to the Stade Velodrome surface in the early stages of the match.
Worried teammates gathered around the stricken Kalu and frantically waved their hands to the bench to summon medical help.
After a few heart-stopping moments, Kalu managed to stand up but was substituted and replaced by Remi Oudin.
Gideon Mensah (far right) in the tick of affairs as players of Bordeaux and Marseille call out for medical attention for injured Nigerian striker of Bordeaux, Samuel Kalu, during the 2nd day of L1, August 15, 2021 at the Stade Vélodrome which finished 2-2 – Sylvain THOMAS AFP
The incident came just two months after Denmark’s Christian Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest in a Euro 2020 match.
“Kalu’s incident gave us chills. It’s always a bit shocking for spectators and players on the pitch,” said Oudin who went on to score in the 2-2 draw.
“With what happened with Eriksen at the Euros, we think about it. Everyone got a little scared. Fortunately, it ended well.
“According to the doctors, it’s a simple discomfort but he will certainly be undergoing tests on Monday.”
In June 2019, Kalu was hospitalised after suffering from dehydration while training with Nigeria in the Egyptian heat during the Africa Cup of Nations.
“I was thinking about what happened during the Euro,” admitted Bordeaux coach Vladimir Petkovic.
“With the medical team, we chose to replace him so as not to take any risks. In these cases, football takes a back seat.”
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