Ex-Cameroon Midfielder, Modeste M’bami Dies @ 40

Ex-Cameroon international, Modeste M’bami has reportedly died of a cardiac arrest at his home in Le Havre, France on Saturday.

According to reports, the former midfielder, who featured for French sides, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Olympique de Marseille during his playing days, sadly succumbed to a heart attack at his home

The 40-year-old M’bami was part of the Cameroonian team that won the 2000 Olympic gold medal and has been living in Le Havre since retiring from active football in 2015.

No further details have been provided regarding the former Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain, Le Havre and Almeria midfielder’s passing, although his former teams have posted messages of condolence.

M’bami is best remembered for scoring the Golden Goal against Brazil in the quarter-finals of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia when the Indomitable Lions won the gold medal.

Confirming the sad development, reigning French champions, PSG said on Twitter; “PSG [are] in mourning. Modeste Mbami has just left us, at the age of 40, after succumbing to a heart attack”.

He featured 37 times for Cameroon between 2000 and 2009, scoring three goals, and was part of the Indomitable Lions team that reached the 2003 Confederations Cup final before losing to France.

M’bami was playing in the Cameroon midfield alongside Marc Vivien Foe when the latter passed away from a cardiac arrest during the Lions’ 2003 Confederation Cup semi-final victory over Colombia.

Yaounde-born M’bami started his career at Dynamo Douala before moving to France, initially with CS Sedan Ardennes, after which he joined PSG and then Marseille.

Before ending his career at Le Havre, the Midfielder also donned the jerseys of Spanish side Almeria, Changchun Yatai in China and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad.

Mbami won the French Cup twice with PSG in 2004 and 2006 as well as the King’s Cup in Saudi Arabia with A-Ittihad in 2013 – With Goal.com reports