Sebastien Haller, the top scorer for Borussia Dortmund and the Côte d’Ivoire national team, who entertained millions with his skills on the field and was the reason his team won the 2023 African Cup of Nations, faced many difficulties when he contracted cancer and lay in his sick bed for a year during which he received chemotherapy doses, to overcome his illness and return. Once again, he scored a goal for his country against Nigeria in the final of the African Cup of Nations, in a scene that sparked widespread reactions and was published in international sports newspapers.
Cancer
The story of Haller’s illness began in July 2022, when he was surprised, after conducting tests and examinations during a training camp in which he participated, weeks after joining Dortmund for $33 million, that he had contracted testicular cancer. He immediately underwent surgery to remove the tumor and then received treatment. Chemotherapy, and the doctors treating him confirmed that he was fighting the disease strongly in order to quickly return to the stadiums stronger than he was before his injury, explaining that he was clinging to hope until the last moment, and at a time when Dortmund confirmed that it would not put pressure on “Haller” in order to speed up his return. To the stadiums, leaving complete freedom to the doctors and the player to determine when to return to training.
In September 2023, “Haller” appeared in a touching scene while receiving the “Willie van der Kuijlen” award, as the best scorer in the Dutch League, after his brilliance with his former Dutch team Ajax Amsterdam and scoring 34 goals in one season, amid warm applause from the fans, and he resisted “ Haller shed tears, commenting: “Things are going well. I am here to be an inspiration to others.”
The top scorer for the Côte d’Ivoire national team returned during the current month of February, in his first match with his team, Borussia Dortmund, after recovering from the illness with a wonderful level and high morale. He led his country to win the African Cup of Nations for the third time in the history of the “Elephants” after scoring the winning goal for his country. In the 81st minute against the Nigerian national team, amid millions of people celebrating his return.
Ivorian Sebastien Haller – archive photo
Tears after victory
Haller commented after the match that what happened was exceptional, and said crying: “I faced difficulties and suffering due to cancer, but with determination and patience, things turned out fine, and in the end I received the most important reward.”
For his part, Dr. Jamal Farwaiz, psychiatry consultant, said that Haller’s victory over cancer and his return to scoring goals again is evidence of his desire to live, because he refused to surrender to the most dangerous disease in the world, and was patient and strong and was able to overcome the disease as quickly as possible. He added to Al-Masry Al-Youm that the brilliance of any player requires the presence of three elements: technical skills, physical abilities, and a good psychological state. He explained that the Ivory Coast player was able to overcome the malignant disease, so it is easy for him to overcome the Nigerian national team’s defense in the final match and score. The goal of victory, and it is a message to every person who faces the ordeal of illness that it is a test of will.
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