Football Stars Join World in Mourning Death of 5-Year Old Rayan

Rabat – The story of Rayan Oram, a five-year-old boy who passed away on February 5 after being trapped in a well for five days, sparked an outpouring of solidarity and sympathy in Morocco and beyond. Football players and clubs across the world took to social media to express their condolences with the boy’s family.

On social media, international football players expressed their sympathy and solidarity with Rayan’s family after the heartbreaking news of his passing, giving them comfort in times of grief and reiterating their prayers and dua.

Morocco’s Tarik Tissoudali led his club, Belgium’s Gent, to a 2-1 win today and dedicated his goal to the soul of Rayan by showing his name on his shirt with the words “We belong to Allah and to Him we will return.”

Moroccan footballer Zakaria Aboukhlal, who plays for Dutch club AZ Alkmaar, also showed off his shirt with the name Rayan on it during his team’s match against PSV Eindhoven.

On instagram, Aboukhlal wrote, “I am very sad about the death of baby Rayan. From the bottom of my heart, I condole his family and wish them patience and solace. To Allah we belong and to him we shall return.”

Head coach of Morocco’s national team Vahid Halilhodzic posted a picture of Rayan on Instagram, with a caption, “What a sadness, peace be upon your soul Rayan.”

Other players such as Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, Sofian Boufal, Mehdi Benatia, and local athletic clubs have all expressed solidarity with Rayan’s family and loved ones.

The death of little Rayan has indeed caused great sadness both in Morocco and internationally. According to some reports, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRFM) submitted a request to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in order to observe a minute of silence before tonight’s AFCON final between Senegal and Egypt.

On Saturday evening, journalist and former Egyptian football player Khaled El Ghandour asked Egypt’s players and team manager Wael Gomaa to carry black badges and hold a minute of silence in memory of Rayan.

Today, Egyptian club Al Ahly also held a minute of silence before their training session in the UAE. Meanwhile, Zamalek, another Egyption club, offered “their deepest condolences to the Moroccan people and Arabs following Rayan’s death.”

“From the narrowness of the well and the earth, to a paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth,” Zamalek added in a tweet.

Algerian national team players and coach Jamal Belmadi reacted to the sad news of Rayan’s death through their personal social media accounts and shared his picture while sending their prayers to his family.

Algerian player Riyad Mahrez was the first to share his message of condolence while also thanking the Moroccan authorities and rescuers who took him out, calling them “heroes.”

European clubs also expressed their sincere condolences on twitter.

Spanish club FC Barcelona wrote, “With great sadness and sorrow, we have received the news of the death of baby Rayan. On this painful occasion, we offer our sincere condolences to his parents and all his family.”

Also from Spain, Real Madrid wrote: “We extend our deepest condolences to Ryan’s family and the Moroccan people for his death, may god give them patience.”

In England, Manchester City tweeted, “We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Ryan. Our feelings and hearts are with his parents, and our condolences to the Moroccan people and all humanity for this tragedy.”

Meanwhile, Manchester United stressed, “Our deepest condolences on the death of champion Ryan, we wish his family patience.”

These are only a few of many tweets that were shared in the memory of Rayan, with many praising the efforts of civil protection services, authorities, the Royal Gendarmerie and auxiliary forces who spent sleepless nights to rescue little Rayan.

Rest in peace, Rayan!