Bamba's wife delivers heartbreaking statement on her husband's 'unfair fight'

Sol Bamba's wife has paid tribute to her husband and has recalled the 'astounding mental and physical strength' he showed in his 'unfair fight' with cancer.

The former Cardiff City, Leeds, Leicester and Ivory Coast defender tragically died yesterday aged just 39.

Turkish side Adanaspor broke the news in a statement released on X which read:  'Our Technical Director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the Manisa Football Club match played 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.'

And now the ex-footballer's wife has released a heartbreaking statement detailing his battle with cancer.

She wrote on Instagram: 'For the last few years I have watched Sol fight his cancer head on with an astounding mental and physical strength and stoicism.

'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. What a gift, what a gift, what a gift to have been loved by him.'

The post was accompanied by a picture of Bamba on holiday and another of the couple together.

The footballer was previously diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a rare form of cancer back on Christmas Eve in 2020 but was believed to be in the clear.

However Turkish outlet hurriyet reported that he 'fell ill before the Manisa FK match due to a relapse of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.'