This archive report was first published on 22 June 2020.
On June 22, 2020, the football world mourned the loss of Togolese international Kossi Koudagba, who tragically died of malaria at the age of 25.
Koudagba, a skilled striker who played for ASC Kara, had returned to his home country due to the COVID-19 lockdown and was staying with relatives in the suburbs of Lome.
Despite his untimely death, Koudagba's impressive football career will be remembered, particularly his two consecutive seasons as the top scorer in the Togolese league, helping his club win the league in 2019.
His incisiveness in front of goal had attracted interest from abroad, with Tunisian side US Tataouine reportedly interested in signing him the previous year, but he turned down the opportunity to play in his home country.
As the Togolese Football Federation (FTF) mourned his passing, they released a statement saluting Koudagba's memory, describing him as a '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.
"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.
