- Kossi Koudagba won the top scorer award of the Togolese league for two straight season
- The striker who turned out for Togolese side ASC Kara had travelled home due to coronavirus
- Koudagba died after falling ill with malaria symptoms while staying in the suburbs of the capital Lome
- His incisiveness in front of goal saw him attract interest abroad but turned down moves so he could play in his country
Togolese striker Kossi Kuodagba who went back home due to the lockdown has reportedly died in his home country after he fell ill with malaria.
The ASC Kara striker finished the Togolese season as top scorer for two years in a row helping his club win the league in 2019.
BBC reports left Kara with the season suspended because of coronavirus to stay with relatives in Devie.
It was gathered the 25-year-old contracted malaria while in the country’s capital Lome and then fell ill and died.
Kossi Koudagba dies from malaria. Photo Credit: Bonface Osano (Twitter)
Source: Getty Images
The Togo FA has since released a statement confirming Koudagba's death mourning him as quality player on and off the pitch.
"In these painful circumstances, the Executive Committee of the FTF wish to salute the memory of the player, whose qualities on and off the field are known to all," the federation said in a statement.
"The FTF Executive Committee would like, on behalf of Togolese football, to express our deepest condolences and express our feelings of sympathy to the family of the deceased, loved ones, the ASCK club, as well as the staff and players of the Togo national team," the statement added.
Koudagba was set to join Tunisian side US Tataouine last year but failed his medical because of heart problems.
He made three appearances for the national team and he was named in the squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
