SENEGAL players and fans paid an emotional and touching tribute to national hero Papa Bouba Diop at the 2022 World Cup.
The former midfielder tragically passed away on this day two years ago aged just 42, less than two decades after he scored an iconic winning goal against France a the World Cup.
Diop was a highly-respected Premier League midfielder and defender, playing for Fulham, Portsmouth, West Ham and Birmingham among others.
Who was Papa Bouba Diop?
Diop was born in Dakar in Senegal, he began his career with Ndeffan Saltigue and then joined ASC Diaraf in the Senegalese Premier League.
After two seasons at Lens in Ligue 1, he signed for Fulham for £6million under Chris Coleman and then played under Lawrie Sanchez.
The following year he was named Fulham’s player of the season.
He moved to Portsmouth on deadline day 2007, where he played under Harry Redknapp.
He then had spells at AEK Athens and West Ham, before moving to Birmingham City.
Diop’s international career catapulted him to fame when he scored against then-reigning world champions France.
Les Bleus were eliminated from the competition at the group stage and Senegal went on to reach the quarter-finals.
How did Papa Bouba Diop die?
He died following a long illness and was buried in his hometown of Dakar, the capital of Senegal, with the president and former team-mates in attendance.
How did fans pay tribute to him?
And ahead of Senegal’s crunch World Cup clash with Ecuador, supporters showed their love for their legendary icon.
Seven fans covered their torsos, arms and faces in body paint as well as accessories in the country’s yellow, green and red colours.
On the front, the group spelt out ‘Senegal’ with each taking one letter.
And on the back, they all had No19 on the back – the number Diop wore for his country.
Other fans held up banners with one reading “True lion never dies”; under a photo of the 6ft 5ins midfielder and Diop shirts while captain Kalidou Koulibaly had No19 on his armband.
Diop earned 63 caps for the Lions of Teranga and scored 11 goals.
Three of those came in the 2002 World Cup run to the quarter-finals, including the winner against world champions France.
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Diop also racked up 325 senior club appearances with 129 in the Premier League for Fulham and Portsmouth.
And he lifted the FA Cup with Pompey in 2008, one of three trophies in his career.
