Jeremy Doku et son épouse Shireen publient des déclarations sur Instagram après la naissance de leur fils Praise

• Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku has shared a spiritual and emotional update after briefly stepping away from Belgium’s camp at the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
• Shireen Raymond has also taken to social media to praise her husband following the birth of their first child, Praise, in London.
• The family update arrives just hours after French media giant L’Équipe was forced to issue a formal public apology over controversial on-air criticism of the player’s movements.

Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku and his wife Shireen have wrote statements and messages on their respective social media channels after the birth of their son, Praise.

Having started in Belgium’s opening Group G encounter – a hard-fought 1-1 stalemate against Egypt – Doku was faced with a life-changing development when staff confirmed his wife Shireen had gone into labour earlier than anticipated in London.

Supported by the Belgian Football Association, the 24-year-old forward was granted immediate leave to board a flight, missing his nation’s subsequent 0-0 draw against Iran while also recovering from a minor respiratory illness.

However, his determination to be present beside his wife Shireen sparked an intense media storm on French television channel L’Équipe, who faced severe global backlash after presenter France Pierron labelled Doku’s decision to temporarily leave the squad as “disgusting,” prompting an immediate public apology from the network.

Jeremy Doku breaks silence on birth of son Praise

Now, issuing statements on their respective Instagram pages, Jeremy Doku and his wife Shireen have both commented for the first time since the birth of their first child together, Praise.

“Thank you to everyone for the love, prayers and kind messages over the past few days,” a message from the Manchester City winger read.

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“Shireen and Praise are doing great, and my heart is full of gratitude. Welcoming my son into the world is one of the greatest blessings God has ever given me,” he continued.

“Thank you to the team for the support, now it’s time to get back to football and represent my country on the biggest stage.

“‘Every good and perfect gift is from above.’ James 1:17

“May God bless you all. Peace, love and gratitude.”

As for his wife Shireen, she wrote on Instagram, “The best birth partner imaginable by the way! We couldn’t have done it without you papa”, in a message to Jeremy Doku.

Doku’s focus immediately turns back to the World Cup

According to an official statement from Belgium’s national team camp, the Manchester City ace has already caught a return flight to the United States, rejoining Rudi Garcia’s squad at their training base.

His swift return provides a monumental boost to the Red Devils, who sorely missed his line-breaking pace and elite isolation dribbling on the flanks during a highly-congested group stage campaign.

The immediate objective for Doku is to rapidly regain full match fitness under the guidance of the national team’s medical staff before Belgium’s decisive Group G finale against New Zealand on Friday.

Once his international duties are wrapped up, the winger will enjoy a brief summer recess before reporting to the City Football Academy, where incoming Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca is eagerly waiting to integrate him into a freshly remodelled frontline.