Former goalkeeper for Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak and Burkina Faso international Soulama Abdoulaye has died after fighting a long illness.
Soulama died at Bobo-Dioulasso on Friday. He is expected to be buried in his hometown of Banfora. He had returned to Burkina Faso after years of professional football in Ghana.
Profile of Soulama Abdoulaye
Born on November 29, 1979, Abdoulaye Soulama began his first steps in football at the Comoé Sports Union (USCO) in Banfora.
He featured for local clubs such as the Sports Association of Bobo-Dioulasso Officials (ASFB) and ASFA Yennenga. His last club was Ghana’s Hearts Of Oak, which he joined after leaving archrivals Asante Kotoko, where he had risen to captain.
He had a tour in Algeria (CA Batan) before spending two years at the Turkish club Denezilispor where he played 25 games in two years.
Third goalkeeper at the 1998 African Cup of Nations (CAN) in Burkina Faso, Abdoulaye Soulama won the Silver Medal at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa under Paul Put.
Moreover, he had to leave his teammates in full competition after learning of the death of his father. That day, he received a red card against Ethiopia (4-0).
Abdoulaye Soulama is part of the legend of the great goalkeepers that Burkina Faso has known. Last April, his brother lost his life following a road accident.
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