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The news on Sunday afternoon was a great shock to all of Senegal and also to many football fans in Europe. Papa Bouba Diop, once a professional at Xamax, GC, Lens, Fulham, Portsmouth and more recently in the city of Birmingham has died until 2013. The 60-time international suffered from Lou Gehrig’s syndrome, an incurable nervous disease.
Her brother Alione told the “SansLimitesn” portal that the disease had “crushed Bouba Diop over and over again”. More recently, an attempt was made to bring him back to Senegal to try the traditional treatment there. “He wanted to go back to his homeland at all costs because he hoped to find a solution like this,” says Alione. Last Thursday, however, Bouba Diop felt “very tired.” A few days later he died in Paris.
Liverpool star Sadio Mané is also in mourning
The former overall midfielder, 2001 champion with Marcel Koller, leaves behind his wife, a daughter and a son. His body has yet to be transported to Senegal to be buried there in Rufisque, where he began his football career.
Meanwhile, there is great sympathy in football. Clubs Fulham, Portsmouth, Birmingham and West Ham immediately expressed their condolences. Liverpool star Sadio Mané writes on Instagram: “You will stay in our hearts forever, even though you left us without saying goodbye. RIP “Former Barça and Inter striker Samuel Eto’o also publishes a photo of his former teammate on social media.
Papa Bouba Diop is a legend in Senegal, in particular thanks to his winning goal at the 2002 World Cup in the first match against defending champion France. In England it was called “The Closet”. (mpe)
