CAIRO: Egyptian international Mohamed Abdelwahab died from heart failure when he collapsed on Thursday during a training session in Cairo, his club Al Ahli said on Friday.

Club doctor Ehab Ali said Abdelwahab’s vital signs had stopped almost immediately after he collapsed 35 minutes into a training session with the African champions.

Abdelwahab, who would have turned 23 on October, had undergone regular medical checks, Ali added, and there was no indication of any problems.

Desperate efforts were made to revive the player at the training pitch and he was rushed to hospital.

He was not involved in a clash with another player.

The Egyptian Football Association said that the gate proceeds from yesterday’s African Nations Cup qualifying Group One game against Burundi in Cairo would go to Abdelwahab’s family.

Abdelwahab had not played a competitive match since the end of the Egyptian season in May because of a dispute over his registration.

The fullback had been on loan at Al Ahli for the last two years from Al Dafraa of the United Arab Emirates.

Negotiations over a permanent move back to Cairo had stalled, ruling him out of the start of the new season and Al Ahli’s campaign in the group phase of the African Champions League, which started in July.

A dispute between the two clubs was due to be heard by FIFA next month, officials added.

His inactivity had also seen him lose his place in the Egyptian national side. – Reuters

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