'Magic' Bamba mural unveiled in Cardiff

The Sol Bamba mural is in the Grangetown area of Cardiff, not far from the Cardiff City Stadium

A mural of the late former Cardiff City captain Sol Bamba has been unveiled on the side of a house in the Grangetown area of the city.

Fans' favourite Bamba died at the age of 39 in August 2024.

The former centre-back played 117 games for Cardiff, scoring 10 goals, and helped the Bluebirds win promotion to the Premier League in 2018.

He later coached at the club, where he was a hugely popular figure both on and off the pitch.

Bamba has now been honoured with the mural, which was unveiled on Wednesday in front of his widow Chloe.

"It's just magic to see Sol memorialised like this in Cardiff - it just means the world to me and my family," she said.

"Cardiff was such a big part of his life and to know that he is going to be a part of Cardiff for a very long time is fantastic. I am looking for a really long ladder so I can go up and give him a kiss."

The mural project was led by Ibby Abdi, who first met fellow Muslim Bamba during prayer in Butetown.

Abdi said the decision to create the Bamba memorial was taken because he had "inspired" many youngsters.

Sol Bamba established himself as a club legend at Cardiff

"Now he is in one of the best locations and you can't miss it if you are in Cardiff, if you are going to the stadium. I am glad his family is here and the club helped. It's an amazing project."

Cardiff director Steve Borley was also present as the mural was unveiled.

"Sol meant to everything to us," Borley said. "You could ask him to do anything.

"I always remember every time I saw Sol, it was a two-handed handshake - he could not do it with one - and the biggest smile you have ever seen.

"He raised everybody's spirits. The fans and people at the club will always have fantastic memories of Sol."

Former Ivory Coast international Bamba had overcome non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021 but passed away in Turkey, where he was working as a technical director at Adanaspor, after being admitted to hospital.

He also played for Dunfermline, Hibernian, Leicester City, Trabzsonspor, Palermo, Leeds United and Middlesbrough.

Listen: Sol Bamba mural unveiled