Abdelhak Nouri «awake, not in coma», says brother on 27th birthday

Abdelhak «Appie» Nouri, the former Dutch-Moroccan footballer, turned 27 on Tuesday. In July 2017, Nouri suffered a cardiac arrhythmia attack during a pre-season friendly match. The attack left him with severe and permanent brain damage.

«Many people still think he is in a coma, but that's not the case: he is conscious. He isn't his old self, but we are very happy that he is among us», Nouri's brother Abderrahim told NOS, reassuring Nouri's fans.

Lieve Abdelhak,

27 jaar. Vandaag maken we een hartje voor jou ♥️ pic.twitter.com/IOqjDnPSIk

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) April 2, 2024

The Nouri family and their Nouri Foundation are now making efforts to prevent this from happening in similar cases in the future.

On his birthday, Nouri's former club Ajax posted a message on social media. «Dear Abdelhak, 27 years old. Today we are making a heart for you», wrote the club.