Qatar’s sports minister and national team player Assim Madibo made a personal visit to Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone to check on his condition following an injury suffered during their World Cup matchup, according to the Qatar Football Association, which announced the visit on Wednesday.
Qatar fell to a lopsided 6-0 loss against Canada in Group B play. During that match, Kone broke his leg after a second-half tackle by Madibo. The Canadian player has since gone through surgery to address the injury.
The Qatar Football Association noted on Facebook that the visitors “were received by the President of the Canadian Soccer Association.”
The association added that “this visit reflects the spirit of sportsmanship and the strong relationships on and off the field,” and extended well wishes to Kone, saying they hope for “a speedy recovery and a quick return to the pitch.”
The Qatar Football Association shared photographs from the hospital visit on social media. One of the images captured the two players sharing a hug, with Kone seen seated in a wheelchair.
Looking ahead in the tournament, Qatar is scheduled to face Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final group stage game, while tournament co-hosts Canada are set to take on Switzerland.
