Top 5 footballers who died on the pitch while playing

Many footballers have lost their lives on the pitch while playing for their clubs or nations.

These footballers died directly from injuries sustained while playing or died after being taken ill on the pitch.

YEN.com.gh brings you the top 5 footballers who died on the pitch:

1. Marc-Vivien Foé

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He Collapsed while playing in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final between his nation, Cameroon and Colombia, and died shortly afterward in hospital. An autopsy later revealed the cause of death was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

2. Cheick Tioté

On June 5, 2017, the Ivorian defensive midfielder collapsed and lost consciousness during a training session and was pronounced dead later that day with a suspected death cause of a heart attack.

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3. Sékou Camara

He died on July 23, 2013, he collapsed on the field during his team's practice session in Bandung. He was rushed to the nearest hospital, but died on the way there. The cause of death was a heart attack

4. Gregory Mertens

Belgian footballer Gregory Mertens died of heart failure, three days after collapsing during a reserve team match against Genk, having never regained consciousness after receiving CPR during the first half. He died on April 30, 2015.

5. Emanuel Ortega

On May 14, 2015, Argentine footballer passes away after sustaining fatal head injury during match.

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