Five-year-old daughter of Nantes star Ignatius Ganago tragically dies after falling ill – prompting the Ligue 1 side to pay their respects in a touching tribute – with the striker set to miss Europa League clash against Juventus
- Ignatius Ganago’s daughter tragically passed away due to an illness on Tuesday
- His football club, Nantes, confirmed the news in a touching tribute on Twitter
- He flew back to Cameroon but missed her death, according to reports in France
The daughter of Nantes striker Ignatius Ganago has tragically passed aged five.
Ganago, who was preparing to face Juventus in the Europa League on Thursday, rushed back to Cameroon upon hearing of Chloe’s illness.
The Cameroon international has since changed his profile photo on Instagram to show his daughter, with Nantes offering their support.
The Ligue 1 outfit regrettably took to social media on Tuesday to reveal the devastating news on social media, announcing that the club was ‘in mourning’ as a result of the ‘terrible ordeal’.
Paying their respects on Twitter, Nantes wrote: ‘FC Nantes is in mourning. It is with deep sadness that the Football Club of Nantes has learned of the death of our striker’s daughter, Ignatius Ganago.
The daughter of Nantes striker Ignatius Ganago tragically passed at the age of five on Tuesday
Ganago has changed his Instagram picture to his daughter Chloe following her passing
Nantes revealed how the club was in mourning in relation to Chloe’s tragic passing after illness
‘We think a lot of you Gana. The Club is with you through this terrible ordeal.’
The French side followed up their touching tribute by changing their social media profile pictures to black, demonstrating that the club was in mourning.
Upcoming opponents Juventus responded to the Nantes’ social media tribute with a prayer emoji.
Top flight outfits Lens and Lyon were among those who tweeted in support of Ganago, who did not arrive in time to witness the passing of his daughter, according to L’Equipe.
Lens, who play Nantes this weekend, tweeted: ‘Racing [Club de Lens] is in mourning. Touched in the heart by this tragedy, the whole of the RCL turns to Ignatius Ganago and his family in this terrible ordeal on this unthinkable morning.
‘The family of Gana will pay tribute to her daughter Chloe on Sunday during Lens versus Nantes.’
Meanwhile, Lyon posted: ‘We offer our condolences to Ignatius Ganago, and give him all our support in this ordeal, as well as to his family.’
Similarly, the French Football Federation wished to pay their respects and said on social media: ‘The FFF presents its deepest condolences to Ignatius Ganago and his family in this terrible ordeal.’
Faced with the grief of losing his daughter, Ganago will understandably not be available to face the Serie A giants in the Europa League on Thursday, which happens to be on the striker’s 24th birthday.
The Cameroonian narrowly missed out on Rigobert Song’s 26-man World Cup squad last year and has chalked up 28 appearances across all competitions so far this season.
Ganago (L) flew to Cameroon but missed the death of his child according to reports in France
Italian club Juventus offered a reply to Nantes’ post with a prayer emoji in a show of support
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