(AFP) – Ivory Coast World Cup stars Yaya and Kolo Toure were mourning their brother Ibrahim on Friday after the 28-year-old died in England, the country’s football federation announced.
Ibrahim, who was also a footballer plying his trade with the Al Safa club in Lebanon, passed away just hours after Ivory Coast had lost 2-1 to Colombia at the World Cup in Brazil.
He had reportedly been suffering from cancer and had received chemotherapy at a hospital in Manchester, where Yaya plays for Premier League champions Manchester City.
“A tough day for the Toure brothers. Just hours after the match Colombia v Cote d’Ivoire (2-1), Kolo and Yaya learned of the death of their younger brother Toure Oyala Ibrahim,” said a statement from the Ivorian Football Federation (IFF).
“The death of Ibrahim Toure occurred on Thursday June 19 in Manchester.
“In these painful circumstances, the players of the national team of Cote d’Ivoire as well as the entire Ivorian delegation present in Brazil at the 2014 World Cup are to demonstrate their compassion for the Toure brothers, members of the Elephants and the great Toure family.”
Kolo Toure, who used to play for City, is on Liverpool’s books.
Ibrahim was at City’s Etihad Stadium on May 11 to see Yaya collect the Premier League trophy after beating West Ham 2-0.