Franck Kessié was also deeply moved by the situation of former Ivorian international Daniel Yeboah, who is living in total destitution. Through his foundation, the Barcelona midfielder came to the aid of the former Elephant goalkeeper.
Former Ivorian footballer Daniel Yeboah has been the subject of discussions on social media for several weeks. Heartbreaking images circulate online, revealing a fallen man, devastated by depression, with a weakened body and a face marked by alarming conditions. His precarious situation has triggered a wave of alerts and calls for help from the Ivorian population, activated on digital platforms.
At 38 years old, Daniel Yeboah was a pillar of the Ivorian Elephants, representing the national team 11 times and participating in two African Cup of Nations finals in 2012 and 2013. He also represented his country at the 2010 World Cup.
Touched by the plight of his elder, Franck Kessié decided to take concrete action through his foundation. Representatives of his foundation visited Daniel Yeboah and provided him with food and other essential products to help him in his difficult situation. “The foundation has launched a solidarity chain around Yeboah Daniel, who is in a difficult situation, in collaboration with associations of active and former footballers (AFI). Since the disappearance of his parents, his life has changed. He is struggling with depression,” explained Eric Bedy, the Managing Director of the Franck Kessié Foundation.
It was thanks to a viral video on social media that Ivorians became aware of the distress of their former goalkeeper. Facing a precarious situation for three years now, Daniel Yeboah lives in a slum in Abidjan, without water or electricity, burdened with regrets. “For us, professional players, signing a contract and getting a signing bonus are priorities. It could have changed my life in the situation I am currently in. My family, who counted on me, is watching me, and this burden weighs heavily on me,” said the former ASEC Mimosas player.
The solidarity towards Daniel Yeboah demonstrates the power of social media in citizen mobilization and the commitment of influential personalities like Franck Kessié, who use their means to help those in greatest need. However, this story also reveals the difficulties that some former high-level athletes may face after their careers, calling for greater awareness of the support for athletes once their sporting glory is over.
