Koné, who fractured his leg, is applauded by fans in Vancouver before Canada x Switzerland By Thiago Lemos
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An emotional show of support marked the match between Canada and Switzerland, in the third round of the World Cup, this Wednesday. Canadian midfielder Koné, who suffered a serious fracture in his left leg during the game against Qatar, appeared on the pitch before the opening whistle, receiving a standing ovation from the public.
The athlete’s appearance reflects the strength of sport in uniting players and fans in moments of overcoming, even in the face of such an impactful injury in a tournament on a global scale.
The fans present at the stadium in Vancouver expressed solidarity with the athlete. Many fans held up and displayed the number 8 shirt, traditionally worn by Koné. The player was taken to the field in a wheelchair during the teams’ warm-up, receiving intense applause from everyone.
The day before, Tuesday, Koné had received significant visits in Vancouver. Among them was Assim Madibo, the Qatari player involved in the play that resulted in the serious injury.
The meeting was also attended by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth of Qatar, and the president of the Canadian football federation.
