Senegal Mourns as Papa Bouba Diop Dies at 42
The year 2020 will be remembered for the bulk of sportsmen that died in it, days after the death of Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona another news just dropped of the death of former Senegal, Fulham and Portsmouth midfielder Papa Bouba Diop. The player died at the of 42.
Papa Bouba Diop made a total of 129 appearances in the Premier League and also had spells in England with West Ham United and Birmingham City. He played for Senegal at the 2002 World Cup, scoring the winner in the tournament’s opening game as his country beat France 1-0.
Fifa posted on their social media saying: “Once a World Cup hero, always a World Cup hero.” A post on Fulham’s Twitter account said the club was “devastated” and, using Diop’s nickname, added: “Rest well, Wardrobe.” Senegal reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, with Diop going on to score twice more in the 3-3 group-stage draw with Uruguay.
Read Also: Exit of an ICON, Diego Maradona Dies at 60
Papa Bouba Diop also featured at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, including when Senegal were runners-up in 2002. He retired in 2013. Diop helped Portsmouth, under Harry Redknapp to win the FA Cup in 2008. The manager Redknapp said: “He was such a wonderful character.” “He was fantastic for me, a great character, always happy and always had a smile on his face. He was a giant of a man.”
“He had no aggression in him. He looked aggressive on the pitch because he was so big, but there was nothing nasty about him. “My thoughts are with all his family.”
Macky Sall, the president of Senegal, called Diop’s death “a great loss for Senegal” while Liverpool’s Senegal midfielder Sadio Mane wrote on his Instagram: “Pape Bouba, it was with a broken heart that we learned of your (death). Know that you will forever remain in our hearts even if you left without saying goodbye to us.”