Former Olympique de Marseille President Pape Diouf has died after contracting coronavirus, according to the French Ligue 1 club, EDNews reports citing CNN.
Diouf had been receiving treatment in his home country, Senegal, before passing away, the Senegalese President Macky Sall confirmed.
"I pay tribute to the medical staff at Fann Hospital (in Dakar, Senegal) who spared no effort to save him," Sall said on Twitter.
In a statement made on Twitter, Marseille said the 68-year-old Diouf had passed away on Tuesday after a battle with Covid-19.
"It is with great sadness that Olympique de Marseille learned of the death of Pape Diouf," the team said in a statement. "Pape will remain in the hearts of the Marseillais forever, as one of the great architects in the club's history.
"We send our sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones."