Gabon international Guy Tchingoma collapsed and died on the field during a premier division match in Libreville on Saturday, the Gabonews agency reported.

Midfielder Tchingoma, 21, collapsed after contact with an opposing player late in the match between his club FC105 Libreville and US Mbiliandzami at the Mondedang de Sibang stadium in the capital.

The news agency reported there were no medical attendants on hand at the game. Tchingoma was taken to hospital in a team bus but pronounced dead on arrival. No cause of death was given.

The midfielder was born in Pointe Noire in neighbouring Congo but given Gabonese nationality allowing him to make his debut in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast in Libreville last September.

Over the last two decades, there have been many reported deaths of African players collapsing while playing soccer.

High profile casualties have included Samuel Okwaraji, of Nigeria, Marc-Vivien Foe, of Cameroon and the Egypt international Mohamed Abdelwahab, who collapsed and died in 2006 from suspected cardiac failure.