El Hadji Diouf, the former teammate of Papa Bouba Diop in the Senegal team, learned with great sadness the death of the former midfielder for “Lions”, this Sunday 29 November. He was her “fighting brother”.
RFI:El Hadji Diouf, how do you react to the death of Papa Bouba Diop that you played with in the selection and to RC Lens?
El Hadji Diouf:I am very sad and very moved. He was more than a teammate, he was a brother. Today, the whole of Senegal is sad. We will always be grateful for what he has done for the country.
He will remain the first goal scorer in Senegal’s history in the World Cup. It was 2002 against defending France. You are the one who gives him help. It is a goal that will forever mark the history of Senegalese and African football.
(He cuts) And world football too! It has come into everyone’s mind. He was an extraordinary player, a person who shared, someone who was committed to working for his native Senegal and his native Africa. It was easy to play with him because he was generous in his efforts and in everyday life.
I remember training before the match against the French team. We told ourselves that the goal could come from him. He was skilled in the box. He was very strong.
There was Bruno Metsu, coach at the time who died in 2013, and now Papa Bouba Diop. It is always very painful to see the members of this Senegal 2002 family leave …
Of course, it’s very difficult to see someone you love, a fighting brother, a friend leave like that. The Senegalese are in mourning. Bouba will remain engraved in our hearts. It’s a legend.
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