Tragedy Strikes Belgian Football: Player Dies Suddenly, Father Passes Days Later

Last Thursday, Omar Achadoud repatriated his sick father from Morocco to Belgium for treatment. The next day, Friday, he played a football match, but he did not wake up from his sleep the following night, apparently from a heart attack, according to some close relatives interviewed by the local press. According to the Houthalen mosque, he was buried on Wednesday.

The sudden death of Omar has shocked the Muslim and Moroccan community. The Houthalen footballer had just become a father two weeks ago. Omar’s friends immediately organized a fundraiser to support his family.

"Omar was very worried about his father who didn’t have much time left," said his coach and friend Adil Yilmaz this weekend. "The whole family was preparing for the death of his father Mbark, and then it happened," Khalid, Omar’s brother-in-law, said.