Tears, memories of Papa Bouba Diop as Senegal advance to meet England

30 November 2022 - 09:41 By Julien Pretot
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Senegal's players celebrate with the crowd after defeating Ecuador 2-1 in their final Group A game and qualifying to the next round of the Qatar 2022 World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on November 29 2022.
Senegal's players celebrate with the crowd after defeating Ecuador 2-1 in their final Group A game and qualifying to the next round of the Qatar 2022 World Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on November 29 2022.
Image: Issouf Sanogo/AFP via Getty Images

Emotions ran high as Senegal qualified for the knockout phase of the World Cup exactly two years after the death of Papa Bouba Diop, the player who kick-started their 2002 run to the quarterfinals.

Kalidou Koulibaly wore a special armband with Diop's number 19 and the players held a banner with a portrait of the midfielder, who died aged 42, after their captain's 70th-minute strike sealed a 2-1 win against Ecuador and effectively sent them into the last-16.

Diop scored the goal in Senegal's 1-0 win against then-holders France in the 2002 tournament and two in a 3-3 against with Uruguay in their last group game.

“This victory and this [man-of-the-match] trophy are for the family of Papa Bouba Diop — this is a special day,” an emotional Koulibaly said after what he labelled “one of the most important game of our careers”.

“We wanted to commemorate the great player he was. He's a legend of Senegalese football, he made me dream, he made all of us dream so we could not mess it up on the anniversary of his death.”

Koulibaly, who spent eight seasons at Napoli before joining Chelsea this season, also sent “strength to the people of Naples, my second home”, who have been affected by the landslide on the island of Ischia.

Senegal were without talismanic Sadio Mané, who was ruled out of the tournament before it started with a fibula injury and the Bayern Munich striker was also in his teammates' minds.

“We also play for Sadio — he's our star, our brother, we're a family,” Koulibaly said before coach Aliou Cissé also mentioned former coach Bruno Metsu, who led them to the quarterfinals in 2002, and died in 2013.

“I don't forget all those who helped us be here today,” he said.

Koulibaly, however, quickly set sights on the next game. Senegal will face the winner of Group B, England, who beat Wales 3-0 on Tuesday night.

“We're not listening to what's being said, we believe in ourselves and we don't intend to just go through the motions here,” Koulibaly said.

“Two-thirds of the world thought we were done after Sadio got injured but the other third, us, Africa, had faith.

“After his injury, there was more pressure on the team leaders but everyone stepped up. We fear no-one, we are a good team with a lot of talent.”

Cissé said Senegal were used to playing make-or-break games.

“We've played so many important games, like the final of the African Nations Cup,” he said of Senegal's victory against Egypt on penalties in February.

Reuters

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