Goalkeeper Jesus Owono’s mother has reportedly travelled to Andorra to support her son as he faces what have been described as the “hardest days of his life” following a fatal on-pitch collision with an opposing striker, whose funeral was held yesterday.

According to Mail Online, Maria del Carmen Owono Mangue made the five-and-a-half-hour drive from her home in the Basque city of San Sebastian to Andorra, where her 25-year-old son currently plays football after learning Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel had lost his fight for life after on-pitch collision with her son.

One of Jesus' younger brothers confirmed their mum was by his side in Andorra.

Speaking in a recent interview, he said: 'We're all very distraught. My mum has gone to be with Jesus because he is suffering.'

A source close to the goalkeeper added: 'Maria del Carmen is one of the most important, if not the most important, people in Jesus' life.

'He had a difficult start being separated from his mum at such an early age and it was very difficult for her too.

'They have been inseparable since Jesus moved to Spain as an eight-year-old.

'Maria del Carmen has helped him integrate into completely new surroundings and supported him every step of the way on his road to becoming a professional footballer.

'It's only natural that she'd want to be by his side now when by his own admission, he's in pieces and finding it impossible to come to terms with the fact a fellow footballer has died because of something he did.'

Some of Owono's Andorra FC team-mates and members of the club's supporters' group have also paid him a visit to deliver a letter of encouragement.

The letter refers to the goalkeeper as 'their Spiderman,' 'his joy,' and 'a person with feelings and a strong family connection.'

Owono was red-carded after kneeing the 30-year-old CD Tenerife striker in the chest in a reckless tackle late into stoppage time during a second-division match on Monday.

The match was suspended when the two sides were drawing 2-2.