Former Dunfermline Athletic footballer Sol Bamba has died at the age of 39.
Bamba had been working as a coach at Adanaspor, with the Turkish club announcing the news late on Saturday night.
The club said in a statement: “Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the match against Manisa Football Club yesterday, was taken to Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital and unfortunately lost his battle for life there.
“Our condolences to his family and our community.”
Bamba played for Dunfermline Athletic 39 times between 2006 and 2008.
He helped the Fife side reach the Scottish Cup final during his first season at the club.
He went on to play for Hibernian, Leicester City, Leeds United, Cardiff City and Middlesbrough.
His wife, Chloe, paid tribute to the father-of-three on Instagram.
‘It was an honour to have loved and been loved by Sol’
She said: “For the last few years I have watched Sol fight his cancer head on with an astounding mental and physical strength.
“Unfortunately, it was never a fair fight and just when things were looking up he took a downturn and finally succumbed on 31st August.
“These years have been indescribably difficult but we still managed to find joy and laughter in it.
“I’ve experienced my worst days but also some of my best.
“Sol accepted his fate as God’s will and left this earth knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that he was loved wholeheartedly. I made sure of that.
“It was an honour to have loved and been loved by Sol. I learnt so much from him. He is my hero. My heart is breaking.”
Dunfermline pays tribute to Sol Bamba
A number of his former clubs have paid tribute to the former Ivory Coast international.
Dunfermline Athletic said: “Everyone at DAFC is shocked and saddened to hear the passing of former player Sol Bamba.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends and team mates at this tragic time.”
A number of The Pars’ fans have joined the club in paying their respects to the defender.
One fan wrote: “I honestly can’t begin to say how sad this news is tonight. I loved watching Sol Bamba when he played for Dunfermline Athletic.
“R.I.P. Gone too soon.”
Another said: “Terrible news, far too young. R.I.P Sol.”
Bamba was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021 while at Cardiff.
He was declared cancer-free after a course of chemotherapy before returning to play for the Welsh side and Middlesbrough.
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