An emotional Nathan Ake has dedicated his first Champions League goal to his late father, who’d been terminally ill and died moments after watching the Manchester City defender score his first Champions League goal.
Ake opened the scoring on Wednesday as City began their latest Champions League campaign with a 6-3 victory over German side RB Leipzig at the Etihad Stadium.
In a moving social media post, the 26-year-old has now revealed the game was one of the last things his dying father saw.
Ake wrote on Instagram: “The past few weeks have been the toughest of my life, my dad has been very ill and there was no more treatment possible. I was lucky to have a lot of support from my fiancee, family and friends.
“Yesterday after a difficult time I scored my first Champions League goal, and only a few minutes after he passed away peacefully with my mum and brother by his side.
“Maybe it was meant to be, watching me play always made him proud and happy. I know you’re always with me, you will always be in my heart and this one was for you dad.”
Ake spoke to media immediately after the game, giving no indication of his difficult personal situation.
© AAP
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