MARSEILLE - Bordeaux striker Samuel Kalu collapsed on the pitch in a French Ligue 1 game at Marseille on Sunday where temperatures hit a sweltering 30 degrees.
The 23-year-old Nigerian international fainted and slumped to the Stade Velodrome surface in the early stages of the match.
Worried teammates gathered around the stricken Kalu and frantically waved their hands to the bench to summon medical help.
After a few heart-stopping moments, Kalu managed to stand up but was substituted and replaced by Remi Oudin.
The incident came just two months after Denmark's Christian Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest in a Euro 2020 match.
"Kalu's incident gave us chills. It's always a bit shocking for spectators and players on the pitch," said Oudin who went on to score in the 2-2 draw.
"With what happened with Eriksen at the Euros, we think about it. Everyone got a little scared. Fortunately, it ended well.
"According to the doctors, it's a simple discomfort but he will certainly be undergoing tests on Monday."
In June 2019, Kalu was hospitalised after suffering from dehydration while training with Nigeria in the Egyptian heat during the Africa Cup of Nations.
"I was thinking about what happened during the Euro," admitted Bordeaux coach Vladimir Petkovic.
"With the medical team, we chose to replace him so as not to take any risks. In these cases, football takes a back seat."
Messi madness
Earlier, Lens claimed a 2-2 draw at home against Saint-Etienne despite Wahbi Khazri opening the scoring for Les Verts, record 10-time champions, after 20 seconds.
Khazri's effort was Ligue 1's quickest goal since Valentin Vada after 14 seconds for Bordeaux against Toulouse in January 2017.
Seven-time champions Lyon are still without a win this season after losing 3-0 at Angers and had forward Maxwell Cornet sent off for two fouls in the second half.
Promoted Clermont made it back-to-back victories to start their first top-tier campaign as Guinea forward Mohamed Bayo scored twice in the 2-0 home win over Ligue 2 champions Troyes, who are under the Manchester City umbrella of the City Football Group.
On Saturday, Messi received a rapturous reception as he ran out onto the pitch along with PSG's other summer signings, with a 48,000-full house greeting the six-time Ballon d'Or winner despite the welcome ceremony taking place an hour before kick-off.
The Argentina attacker watched the 4-2 win over Strasbourg from the stands alongside Neymar and Angel di Maria - the trio not yet considered match-fit having enjoyed an extended break after playing at the Copa America.
Elsewhere, Christophe Galtier had a successful return to Lille, with whom he lifted the title last season, as his Nice side hammered the champions 4-0. - AFP. August 16, 2021
