Tributes are flowing in after the passing of former Gabon international Moise Brou Apanga who died on Wednesday from a suspected heart attack.
The 35-year-old who played for the Panthers at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2010 and 2012, collapsed during a training session with Gabonese club, FC 105 Libreville.
It is a sad time for Gabon Football Federation (Fegafoot) who announced the news while paying tribute to the former Panther.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”The country has lost a brave son who has always given his best for the Gabonese flag,”[/perfectpullquote]
Fegafoot wrote.
“All our condolences to his family and team-mates.”
Fellow bereaved national and now former teammates were also saddened by the news with Gabon captain and Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Sunderland and Gabon midfielder Didier Ndong, among those also paying their tributes.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”We played together, we played against each other, but it was always a pleasure to play alongside you,”[/perfectpullquote]
Aubameyang posted.
“Rest in peace, my brother”
Moments before his game against Middleborough, 22-year-old Ndong wrote, “I take this moment to tell you that I’ll be thinking about you every minute of this match – rest in peace big brother.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Brou Apanga a legend of Gabonese football.”[/perfectpullquote]
Brou Apanga was born in Ivory Coast but switched allegiance after persuasion from then coach Alain Giresse, to become a Gabonese citizen during his time with FC 105.
In 2007, Brou Apanga was handed his international debut by the French coach who also helped him secure a move to Brest. Giresse was devastated by the news.
“I have collapsed, I’m destroyed,” Giresse told French Newspaper, L’Equipe.
In addition to playing for Brest in France, Brou Apanga also played with Italian clubs Perugia and Brescia after first starting out his career with Romanian side, FC Politehnica Timisoara.
In 2012, he made a return home to Gabon where he played for Mangasport and later reunited with FC 105, for a second spell after returning earlier this year.
Brou Apanga who played 33 times for Gabon, will be missed after his sudden passing at a young age.
Featured photo: Getty Images
