Ndicka overcomes collapse on the field and becomes a pillar of Ivory Coast’s defense in the World Cup
Defender Evan Ndicka, who collapsed on the field just over two years ago, on April 14, 2024, is now preparing for his first appearance in a World Cup match. He carries with him not only the representation of the country he chose to defend, but also the overcoming of a serious health problem.
After being left out of the 1-0 victory against Ecuador and the 2-1 defeat to Germany, the Ivory Coast defender was confirmed for the decisive clash against Curaçao. The match will take place this Thursday, at 5pm (Brasília time), in the last round of Group E, with the African team seeking an unprecedented qualification for the next phase.
Born in Paris, France, Ndicka made the choice to play for the Ivory Coast team, his mother’s country of origin, while his father is from Cameroon. This decision significantly influenced his trajectory in international football and established him as a prominent and proud figure in his African nation.
Currently 26 years old and playing as a defender for Roma, in Italy, Ndicka went through all the training in France’s youth categories, between 2014 and 2020. However, he did not reach the main world champion team, opting in 2023 to wear the Ivorian national team’s shirt.
However, the player’s life took an unexpected turn shortly afterwards. During a clash between Roma and Udinese, valid for the Italian Championship, the defender fell on the field, complaining of severe chest pain. The match was promptly stopped, and Ndicka was removed from the field on a stretcher.
The diagnosis revealed that Ndicka suffered chest trauma that resulted in a collapsed lung, known as a pneumothorax. Crucially, subsequent scans refuted any heart problems, a common initial concern in such incidents, ensuring his safe return to training occurred days later.
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“When experiencing something like this, your outlook on life changes completely. It is understood that football is something wonderful, but health and family are always the top priority. Being able to return to performing at a high level was a gift”, declared Ndicka, shortly after his recovery.
In-depth cardiological examinations confirmed the absence of a heart attack or any cardiac pathology. The official report released by Roma indicated a thoracic trauma with minimal pneumothorax, characterized by the small presence of air between the lung and the chest wall, a condition that can be triggered by impacts and routine physical shocks during matches.
“I felt a lot of fear, but after the health professionals explained what actually happened, I felt calmer. The support I received from everyone, both in Italy and in Côte d’Ivoire, was incredible. This gave me great motivation to return to the pitch as soon as possible”, declared Ndicka.
Ivory Coast team maintains optimism for advancement in the World Cup
While recovering from a muscle injury in his right thigh, the Ivorian athlete was unable to join the team in the first two games of the World Cup. Coach Emerse Faé, however, confirmed his return for the clash against Curaçao, a match in which the African team could secure an unprecedented qualification for the next phase. In the three previous editions in which they participated, Côte d’Ivoire never advanced beyond the group stage.
“The fundamental thing will be our ability to display the same determination, the same mentality and the same energy that we showed in the games against Ecuador and Germany. I believe that, if we show respect for our opponent from start to finish and form effectively in the points I just mentioned, we will have excellent opportunities to achieve qualification”, stated the Ivorian coach.
The commander highlighted the importance of respecting the Curaçao team which, after being beaten 7-1 by Germany, managed a 0-0 draw against Ecuador. This performance kept the Caribbean team with a chance of advancing in the competition in the final round.
“This is a team that, even after a heavy 7-1 defeat to Germany, found the mental strength to equalize the score with Ecuador. It is a team that plays with great aggression, has attackers capable of making individual decisions and shows a lot of unity. We expect a challenging confrontation, as all World Cup matches tend to be”, emphasized Emerse Faé.
