Cody Gakpo bereaved as partner loses unborn son before Netherlands v Morocco | OneFootball

Cody Gakpo is grieving the loss of his unborn son two days before the Netherlands’ World Cup last-16 meeting with Morocco.

According to L'Équipe, the Liverpool forward and his partner, Noa van der Bij, announced on Saturday that their baby, Elijah Raphael Gakpo, had died during pregnancy. The news was shared on Instagram, and the couple thanked people for their support. They had revealed the pregnancy only weeks earlier.

In a subsequent message from the United States, where she is accompanying the Dutch international during the tournament, Van der Bij described lighting a candle at church. She then visited a playground with their son, Samuel, and met a child named Elijah, which she saw as a sign from God and a reminder their little boy is never far away.

Gakpo has started the tournament strongly, scoring two goals and providing one assist in three matches.

He should be available to face Morocco in Monterrey overnight from Monday to Tuesday, with kick-off at three in the morning.

Source: L'Équipe