Koné's injury cast a massive shadow over Canada's impressive victory on Thursday night. The co-host of the tournament secured a dominant 6-0 win against Qatar, but saw their midfielder stretchered off the field. This occurred after a brutal tackle from Assim Madibo. The Qatari player launched into a sliding challenge on Koné, and it quickly became clear that the injury was severe. Koné's foot was in an unnatural position, leading to chaos on the pitch.
Ultimately, Madibo received a red card and also left the field visibly shaken. Koné, from the stretcher, still managed to give a thumbs-up to the fans, but once he arrived at the hospital, the extent of the injury became apparent. The midfielder suffered a double leg fracture from the tackle and required immediate surgery. Fortunately, Koné has strong support from his teammates, who immediately demonstrated their solidarity.
Support for Koné
Support for Koné was evident even during the match. Nathan Saliba came on for the unfortunate midfielder and scored just seven minutes after entering the field. The Anderlecht player immediately rushed to the bench to grab Koné's jersey, holding it aloft to show his support.
Moïse Bombito
OGC Nice's Bombito also decided to show his support. He visited his teammate in the hospital after his operation. Bombito and Koné took a photo together, in which the midfielder appears to be in good spirits. Despite the injury, Canada's victory over Qatar significantly boosts their chances of advancing to the knockout stage of the World Cup. Koné, however, will not be part of that journey, as he is likely sidelined for four to five months.
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