Former Iraq international Hannun Meshkur dies in Baghdad after long illness

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Hannun Meshkur, a former Iraq national team and Air Force Club footballer, died in Baghdad on Saturday after a battle with illness lasting more than two years, Iraqi sports figures said. Meshkur had become largely immobile in recent months as his condition worsened, with former national team players and the National Players Association closely following his case. A prominent forward in the 1970s and 1980s, Meshkur played for the Iraq national team and Air Force Club during one of the most successful eras in Iraqi football history. His goalscoring performances in attack made him one of the era's standout figures for both club and country. In a televised interview during his illness, Meshkur said he had gone roughly 14 months without receiving his salary from Air Force Club and was owed around $4,000. Unable to cover his treatment costs, he appealed to the club's management for a humanitarian resolution, citing his deteriorating health. Iraq's sports community has offered condolences to Meshkur's family, recognizing his contributions to the national team and to Air Force Club across his career.