The African football fraternity has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of former Benin Republic striker, Razak Omotoyossi, at the age of 39.
Omotoyossi, who was born in Lagos but chose to represent Benin at senior level, died on Tuesday, August 19, 2025. The exact cause and location of his death have not yet been made public.
The former Helsingborgs IF and FC Metz forward is survived by his wife, Nigerian actress Bose Alao, and four children, including twins.
A prolific goalscorer in his prime, Omotoyossi earned 55 caps for Benin, scoring 21 goals to become one of the country’s all-time top scorers. He famously netted all four goals in Benin’s 4–1 win over Togo during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, finishing the campaign as joint top scorer alongside Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o. He also holds the distinction of being Benin’s first scorer at an AFCON finals.
At club level, the striker’s career spanned Sweden, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and several other countries, where he built a reputation as a powerful and committed forward.
His death comes just weeks after a series of personal tragedies, including the destruction of his home by fire in July and the loss of his elder sister.
Tributes have poured in from across the football world. French side FC Metz and Sweden’s Helsingborgs IF, two of his former clubs, led the condolences, while fans described him as “a passionate servant of the game whose impact will never be forgotten.”
The Benin Football Federation is expected to issue an official statement in the coming days.
