Throughout Canada and Doha Information’s Global Cup matchup on June 18, Canadian midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a “gruesome” leg harm that left him being stretchered off the pitch, dampening Canada’s first-ever Global Cup victory.
Within the 51st minute of the fit, Koné won a cross from teammate Jonathan David. Once Koné won the ball, Doha Information midfielder Assim Madibo fought for ownership, and within the procedure struck Koné’s leg, leading to an audible crack.
Canadian and Qatari football avid gamers needed to be separated as arguing ensued.
Koné used to be carted off the sphere on a stretcher, waving to the gang within Vancouver’s BC Position and hugging his teammates and Canadian head trainer Jesse Marsch. The incident left avid gamers and coaches on each groups visibly affected.
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“It happened right in front of the bench. We could all hear it. I knew right away,” Marsch mentioned Thursday evening. “It was right in front of us, and everyone could hear the bone snap.”
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Marsch spoke to newshounds Friday afternoon and showed that Koné suffered a tibia and fibula fracture.
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“They did the surgery last night […] and the doctor said it went perfectly,” he mentioned.
“He’s been an incredible player, maybe our best player in the tournament so far and then and he’s also a big personality in the group, so we’ll manage it, but it won’t be easy.”
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Canadian Nathan Saliba changed Koné within the lineup and scored within the sixty fourth minute, celebrating the function via maintaining up Koné’s jersey, leading to thunderous cheers from the gang.
Canada’s Nathan Saliba (25) holds up injured teammate Ismael Kone’s jersey after scoring towards Doha Information right through the second one part of a Global Cup Team B football fit, in Vancouver, on Thursday, June 18, 2026.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Koné posted to his Instagram account Friday morning, thanking the staff and enthusiasts for his or her fortify.
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“Your love and support has been felt, honestly thank you so much,” he wrote. “You can’t even imagine, how grateful I am to everyone who reached out and that has me in their prayers. I thank God for that because not everyone is this fortunate.
“To Canadian brothers, as I turned myself into assistant coach to support you from the sideline. I wanted you to know that I love you guys from the bottom of my heart and our brotherhood is everything to me. What you guys did yesterday will stay with me forever. I’ll be back very soon and we’ll keep making more memories together.”
Madibo, who used to be visibly in tears following the play, used to be to start with given a yellow card for his foul. An extra assessment decided the violation used to be dedicated with intent and the penalty used to be increased to a purple card. Madibo used to be ejected from the sport in consequence and can be suspended from Doha Information’s June 24 fit towards Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Marsch additionally mentioned in a media availability following Thursday’s fit that Madibo got here via the Canadian locker room to ask for forgiveness for the play.
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“Let me be clear, the player apologized to Ismaël, like came into the dressing room and apologized to him, and Ismaël told the team or let the team know that that had happened,” Marsch mentioned. “So, I don’t think that he meant such a gruesome tackle or a gruesome situation. I don’t fault him for that.”
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Canadian avid gamers additionally spoke of Koné’s affect at the staff following the fit.
“He means everything to this team,” David mentioned of Koné after the fit.
“I mean, if you have the same question to any guy on the team, they’ll tell you the same because, I don’t know how to describe. It’s someone that we love a lot.”
Defender Alistair Johnston additionally mentioned that Koné’s harm has “given us now something else to play for.”
Canada’s Ismael Kone, beneath, recieves scientific consideration right through the Global Cup Team B football fit towards Doha Information in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026.
(AP Picture/Abbie Parr)
“Hopefully [we’ll] be able to go see him tonight at the hospital, see what kind of spirits he’s in,” he mentioned. “Yeah, glance, it’s going to hit him onerous. However on the identical time, I used to be happy with him, and we’re going to play for him.
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“That’s what this team is all about; it really is a brotherhood. So it’s really difficult to see one of your brothers go down. But, look, if we needed any extra motivation for this tournament, we got it now.”
The load of the play additionally got here via when Top Minister Mark Carney addressed the staff within the locker room following the country’s historical win.
“It’s in moments like that that you see character, and a real team,” he mentioned to the staff.
Koné has 4 targets for Canada, and performs his membership football in Italy the place he had six targets over 35 video games for Serie A facet Sassuolo this season.
These days main Team B, Canada is ready to stand Switzerland in Vancouver subsequent Wednesday of their 3rd and ultimate sport of the crowd level at 3 p.m. EST.
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