Heartbroken Canada World Cup star Ismael Kone said the support he has received from fans in the aftermath of his horror leg break will stay with him forever.
The midfielder suffered a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg after being hacked to the ground by Qatar’s Assim Madibo during the 51st minute of Canada’s resounding 6-0 victory. As Kone writhed on the turf, one of Canada’s assistant coaches rushed to a fourth official and shouted: ‘His leg is hanging off.’
The injury set the tone for a tense finish with tempers flaring both on the field and between managers Jesse Marsch and Julen Lopetegui.
Kone, meanwhile, was on his way to hospital in Vancouver for surgery on his leg that starts him on a long road to recovery while his World Cup campaign ended early.
On Friday, he sent a message to his fans on social media which said: ‘ALLAH has never failed me. Throughout my life, not even once.
‘So why doubt him now? Especially knowing that. He knows and sees everything before it even happened. He has a plan and a vision for all of us.
Canada star Ismael Kone suffered a horror injury during the Group B clash against Qatar
The Canada star has since shared a message from hospital after his World Cup was ended
He was visited by his teammates in hospital where he had surgery on two broken bones
‘This battle is test to my faith in him and to my character. And honestly I’m ready for it because, ALLAH will never give you a challenge that you can’t overcome and being tested is the best of gift from god.’
Kone was visited in hospital by multiple teammates, including Moses Bombito, who he posed for a selfie with.
He also told Canada fans that he is now becoming another assistant coach for the team through the remainder of the tournament.
‘Your love and support has been felt, honestly thank you so much,’ Kone continued. ‘You can’t even imagine, how grateful I am to everyone who reached out and that has me in their prayers.
‘To Canadian brothers, as I turned myself into assistant coach to support you from the sideline. I wanted you to know that I love you guys from the bottom of my heart and our brotherhood is everything to me.
‘What you guys did yesterday will stay with me forever. I’ll be back very soon and we’ll keep making more memories together.’
Marsch later told reporters that he ‘could hear the bone snap,’ when asked about Kone’s injury in his press conference.
‘Your heart goes out to him. Everybody’s shaken for him,’ he said before adding that he would be going straight to the hospital to be with his player.
His concerned teammates quickly surrounded him as medical staff rushed onto the field
Kone’s close friend Jonathan David in particular looked to be in distress as he watched on in shock, while an emotional Luc de Fougerolles had to be consoled by goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau as the 20-year-old defender burst into tears on the field.
After trainers put an air cast on his left leg, Kone was wheeled off the field on a stretcher, wearing an oxygen mask.
Canada is on the brink of qualifying for the last-32 of the World Cup and Marsch’s team are now sharpening their focus on next Wednesday’s game against Switzerland.
