The Toure brothers of Cote d’Ivoire Kolo and Yaya learnt about the demise of their brother, Ibrahim, hours after Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Colombia.
Ibrahim died aged 28 in Manchester on Thursday, Ivory Coast Football Association (FA) confirmed in a statement.
“Kolo and Yaya Toure just heard about the death of their young brother, Toure Oyala Ibrahim. The entire Ivorian delegation want to show their support to the players,” the statement read.
“The Ivory Coast FA president and the executive committee have announced to the entire family of Ivorian football the death of Toure Oyala Ibrahim, the younger brother of Toure Kolo Abib and Toure Yaya Gnegneri, which happened on the 19th of June in Manchester (England).”
Ibrahim, who played as a striker, signed for last season’s Lebanese champions Al Safa.
“In such a sad situation, the players from the Ivory Coast national team, and the entire delegation here in Brazil, show their support to the Toure brothers and their whole family. The president of Football Ivory Coast Federation and the executive committee ask Ivorians for their prayers,” the statement adds.
Elephants skipper Yaya played every minute of yesterday loss at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, while Kolo was an unused substitute.
Summer Reading