Former Senegal star Cheikhou Kouyate kept lifelong heart condition secret to avoid early retirement

Former Senegal international Cheikhou Kouyate has revealed that he kept a congenital heart condition secret throughout his professional football career because he feared being forced to retire prematurely.

The former West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest midfielder, who recently announced his retirement, disclosed that he had been playing with the condition since birth but chose not to inform his family or Senegal’s national team medical staff.

Kouyate made 296 appearances in the English Premier League during a decade-long spell in the competition, continuing to compete at the highest level despite knowing about his health problem.

“I suffered from this heart problem since birth. I played with it,” Kouyate revealed.

The former Senegal star explained that his condition was monitored regularly during his time in England, with medical examinations conducted every six months at his clubs. However, the problem continued to emerge during the tests.

“In England, it was monitored every six months. I had medical check-ups at West Ham, Crystal Palace, and Nottingham Forest. Every time I had the tests, the problem reappeared,” he said.

Despite doctors repeatedly informing him about the condition, Kouyate said he accepted responsibility for continuing his career and signed insurance documents acknowledging the risks involved.

“The doctors always pointed out the problem to me, but I took responsibility myself. I signed the insurance papers stating that anything that might happen to me would be my responsibility,” he added.

Kouyate also described the discomfort he experienced while playing, explaining that the condition caused severe pain, particularly in hot conditions and at high altitude.

“The problem is at high altitude. If I play in the heat, it hurts terribly, during and after matches. It feels like a side stitch for about five minutes, and then it goes away,” he explained.

He added that the pain could be followed by cramps after matches, although the symptoms usually subsided within 24 hours.

Despite these challenges, Kouyate chose to keep the condition private because he did not want his career to be cut short. He said even his closest relatives and members of Senegal’s medical team were unaware of the problem.

“I never said anything. I didn’t want to be forced to stop early. I never told my family, not even the national team doctors. They didn’t know about my problem,” he disclosed.

Kouyate enjoyed a lengthy career in European football and became an established figure for Senegal, earning a reputation for his physical presence, versatility and leadership in midfield.

His revelation has shed light on the personal challenge he says he carried throughout his playing days, as he continued to represent his clubs and country while keeping his lifelong heart condition hidden from those closest to him.