LYON (France), June 27: Ten-man Cameroon booked their place in the Confederations Cup final on Thursday with a 1-0 victory over Colombia, but celebrations were overshadowed by the death of their midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe.

Foe collapsed in the centre circle at the Stade Gerland about 15 minutes from time, and was carried off on a stretcher with a breathing tube in his mouth. He died around half an hour later.

“Boys, even if it means dying on the pitch, we must win this semi-final,” Marc-Vivien Foe told his Cameroon team mates at halftime.

It was not clear what had happened to Foe but a FIFA spokesman announced later that his heart stopped after he was taken from the pitch. Medical staff tried for 45 minutes to restart his heart, without success.

Cameroon were fired into a ninth-minute lead by striker Pius Ndiefi but had defender Bill Tchato red-carded an hour later.

Eric Djemba-Djemba sent a high ball from the right to the far post, Mohamadou Idrissou headed back past keeper Oscar Cordoba across the face of his goal and Ndiefi volleyed into an empty net.

Though they looked well in control for 70 minutes, winning all the 50-50 tackles and usually overpowering Colombia’s attacking manoeuvres, their deserved lead could so easily have evaporated in the closing minutes.

Colombia will be left to kick themselves for the missed chances in a match during which they never gave up the fight.

In injury time, defender Mario Yepes headed against the Cameroon post and Victor Aristizabal sent a follow-up header against the same post.

But Cameroon’s luck held and they now face a trip north to Paris while Colombia go to nearby St Etienne for Saturday’s third-place play-off match.

In the later semifinal, European champions France overcame a strong challenge to tame Turkey 3-2.

Stunned Cameroon players resolved to play the final on Sunday in honour of Foe.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter travelled to Lyon on Friday to console Foe’s family and members of the Cameroon squad, who told him they would go ahead with the final in Paris.

“I know you are sad, stunned and shocked by what happened to Marc-Vivien Foe yesterday,” Blatter said in an emotional address to the players. “We have to face the situation. There’s sadness, yes, but hope also. We can keep a vision for the future.

An autopsy on Friday shed no immediate light on the cause of Foe’s death but ruled out a stroke. Further tests will be carried out which are expected to be made public in the next few days.

Foe was taking medication for a stomach disorder in the days leading up to the match, FIFA said, but ruled that out as a possible cause of his death.

Plans for a national day of mourning in Cameroon were announced and world soccer’s ruling body is to consider renaming the next Confederations Cup in Foe’s honour.

Blatter also met Foe’s widow, who lives in Lyon with her three children, the youngest of whom is two months old.

He said FIFA would consider a suggestion to rename the next Confederations Cup tournament in the player’s honour.

Manchester City, for whom Foe played last season on loan, were swamped with tributes for the midfielder who had quickly become a crowd favourite.

City said they would retire the number 23 shirt which Foe wore last season when he scored nine goals in 38 matches.

They were hoping to sign Foe permanently, although several other clubs were interested in buying him from French champions Olympique Lyon.

Perhaps the most eloquent tribute came from France striker Thierry Henry, who pointed to the sky after scoring in his team’s win over Turkey and dedicated the goal to Foe.

In Cameroon’s capital Yaounde, celebrations after the game were abruptly halted as fans learned the news. Several people collapsed and were taken to hospital, and bars emptied rapidly.

Foe played for Cameroon in two World Cups and helped his country win two African Nations Cups in nearly 10 years in the team—Reuter