The Ivorian Football Federation has announced the death of Ibrahim Toure, the brother of Kolo and Yaya Toure.

It has been reported that Ibrahim Toure, 28, had been battling cancer and was being treated in Manchester where he died on Thursday.

He is a younger brother of Yaya and Kolo Toure, who are both part of the Ivory Coast World Cup team.

The Ivory Coast Football Association released a statement online today saying the brothers, who play for Manchester City and Liverpool respectively, had been informed and the FA offered its support to the family at this time.

"The football Ivory Coast federation president (FIF) and the Executive Committee announced to the entire family of Ivorian football the death of Toure Oyala Ibrahim, the younger brother of Toure Kolo Abib and Toure Yaya Gnegneri, which happened on the 19th of June in Manchester (England)," read the statement.

"In such a sad situation, the players from the Ivory Coast national team, and the entire delegation here in Brazil, show their support to the Toure brothers and their whole family. The president of Football Ivory Coast Federation and the Executive Committee ask Ivorians for their prayers."

Ibrahim had been a regular visitor to the Manchester City training ground, according to a statement on the club website.

"The thoughts of everyone at Manchester City FC are with Yaya and Kolo Toure following the death of their younger brother Ibrahim," it read.

"Ibrahim was a regular visitor to Carrington and was a popular figure among the staff and players and was extremely close to his two older brothers."

A message of sympathy was also posted on Kolo's team website.

"The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool Football Club are with defender Kolo Toure following the news of the passing of his brother, Ibrahim, aged 28," it read.

Ivory Coast are currently second in Group C in the World Cup, with their next match against Greece due to be played on Tuesday.