A dark cloud has cast a shadow over the AFCON festivities in Morocco. Mohamed Soumaré, a respected Malian sports journalist, was found dead in his hotel room in Tangier, just hours before he was due to cover the semi-final.

Soumaré, known for his passionate coverage of the Eagles, is suspected to have died of natural causes, though an autopsy is pending. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) held a minute of silence in his honor. His death is a tragic blow to the African media fraternity, reminding us of the unseen pressures faced by those who tell the stories of our game.