Cameroon captain Rigobert Song has paid a moving tribute to his long-time friend Marc-Vivien Foe, saying he feels like an 'orphan' since the midfielder tragically died on Thursday night in Lyon.
Foe, 28, collapsed in the 72nd minute of his side's 1-0 win over Colombia and lost consciousness. Despite 45 minutes of resuscitation the midfielder died at 8.20pm, casting a shadow over the world of football.
Song, who like Foe started his career in 1994, had followed a similar career path as his friend's in France, England, and with the Indomitable Lions.
"I feel like an orphan," Song said. "When we talk about the older players of the Cameroon team, I look around me and I am on my own. I am the only one left.
The Lens defender recalled his feelings from the moment the former Manchester City player collapsed to the announcement of his death.
"I did not realise," he added. "I saw him fall and thought that he had maybe received a knock.
"But at that time none of us thought that it would be that serious. It is so rare, when a player is stretchered off, that he dies shortly after.
"That is why we finished the match and celebrated our victory the way we usually do.
"We then went back to the changing rooms. It was not as usual, I tried to shout, sing, be happy and boost the atmosphere.
"But bizarrely there were some people from the delegation there, like the minister of sports, and this never happens usually.
"I tried not to focus on that but more people who we did not know came, they were whispering and this grabbed my attention, from that moment on I knew things were not normal and I wanted to know.
"Then another person, in tears, entered the room and told us the news.
"We all cried, but we could not see Marco, we could not believe it was true. I wanted to see it to make sure that it was true.
"We then went to see him. It was horrible, thinking that just a few hours, minutes before, he was alive."
Song and Foe both started their careers in Yaounde before moving to France where they had spells with Metz and Lens.
They then emigrated to England, Song in Liverpool and Foe with West Ham. Foe returned to France and joined Lyon from 2000 to 2002 before being loaned to City.
Song meanwhile also returned to France when he moved to Lens, Foe's former club.
Song has 71 caps while Foe, who was married and had three children (eight years old, five years and two-months) had 63 caps with the Indomitable Lions.
"I started with him," Song added. "We were living in the same area of Yaounde, his mum knew me and mine knew Marco.
"We also started our career together, we followed the same path, we even had the same agent, Pape Diouf.
"In 1994 we started our international career during the World Cup in the United States and we then both left Africa to go to Europe, he went to Lens, I joined Metz.
"His body is not with us anymore but his spirit will always remain."