Ibrahima Konate posts emotional update after father's death in message to Liverpool fans
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate shared a message of gratitude after the death of his father.
Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate has expressed his heartfelt thanks for the wave of support he received following the death of his father, Hamady. The French international was notably absent from the Reds' Champions League clash with Marseille in southern France on Wednesday. Arne Slot voiced his 'sadness' at the reason for Konate's absence and, on Thursday, Konate announced that his father had passed away.
He will not be part of Saturday's match against Bournemouth as he stays with his family. On Friday evening, Konate posted a message expressing his gratitude for the outpouring of support.
He wrote: "Thank you all so much for your messages, calls, thoughts and presence today at the mosque. Even though I haven't had the strength or time to reply to everyone, this really touched me and did a lot of good.
"Thank you for your support and prayers May Allah keep you safe. To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return."
Konate shared the devastating news of his father's deal and details on Thursday via an Instagram post.
He said: "Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return.
"Janazah (Funeral Prayer) For our father Hamady Konaté will take place on Friday, 23 January, after Jumu'ah prayer at In Sha Allah (12:45 pm).
"The Messenger of Allah said: 'There is no deceased person over whom a group of Muslims numbering one hundred prays, all of them interceding for him, except that their intercession is accepted.'"
Joe Gomez stood in during Konate's absence and is set to retain his position alongside Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk against Bournemouth.
The Reds are likely to field an unchanged back four from their Champions League victory as they grapple with limited defensive resources.
Slot commented: "I spoke to him [Konate] a few times, and I think these are private matters and they should stay between us.
"It is very obvious that if something like that happens, a player needs time to be there for his family and also time for himself."
