Last updated on .From the section African

Aurier (middle) reacted quickly after Doumbia (Mali's number 12, on the right) collapsed following an aerial challenge

Paris Saint-Germain and Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier has been praised after "saving the life" of Mali forward Moussa Doumbia on Saturday.

After Doumbia was knocked unconscious in a challenge with Sunderland's Lamine Kone, Aurier intervened to stop the Rostov player swallowing his tongue.

Mali's manager Alain Giresse added that he spoke to Aurier after the game to thank him for his "superb reactions".

Ivory Coast went on to win the home 2018 World Cup qualifier 3-1 in Bouake.

"All the players realised that Doumbia was choking and was about to swallow his tongue," Giresse told French radio station RMC. external-link

"That's when Aurier, with one of our players, quickly put him on his side and pulled out his tongue, because he was about to lose his life."

However, Aurier later caused controversy by making a throat-slit gesture towards the crowd after his side's second goal.