The Senegalese Football Federation confirmed to CNN that Papa Bouba Diop, the Senegal World Cup star and former Premier League footballer, has passed away at the age of forty-two.
Papa Bouba Diop appeared sixty-three times for his nation with the best performances of his international career arrived at the World Cup of 2002 where he hit the first goal of the tournament when Senegal shocked reigning champion France with 1-0.
Former Premier League player and Senegal World Cup star Papa Bouba Diop has died aged 42, according to multiple reports including ESPN. https://t.co/62y3gJ7d1M
— CNN International (@cnni) November 30, 2020
The football star further hit two goals in the match when Senegal appeared in the quarterfinal match.
In a statement, Augustin Senghor (the President of the Senegalese Football Federation) said that thanks to Bouba Diop and his 2002 generation, the entire world discovered Senegal, Terranga land, and Football. He concluded his statement by saying, rest in peace, forever in our hearts.
FIFA shares condolence for the player
The governing body of Football (FIFA), on Sunday, said it was grieved to hear the death of star player Bouba Diop. On Twitter, in a tweet, it described that once a World Cup star, always a World Cup star.
The star footballer started his football career in Senegal before joining teams in France and Switzerland. Even though, most of his football career spent in England, where he played for both Portsmouth and Fulham in the EPL (English Premier League).
Source: Web
The nickname of Bouba was ‘The Wardrobe,’ he won the Football Association Cup, when he played for Portsmouth and that football club paid tribute to the player. The statement said that the thoughts of every person at Portsmouth Football Club are with Bouba’s friends and his family at this sad time.
After getting fame at AEK Athens, he came back to London to play for West Ham before ending his football career at Birmingham City 7 years ago.
On Twitter, Birmingham explained that they are devastated to know about the death news of Bouba Diop at the age of forty-two. Birmingham said that their thoughts are with Bouba’s friends and family at this incredibly hard time.
On Instagram, Sadio Mane (current Senegal and Liverpool star) paid tribute to Bouba Diop in a message. He explained that it is with a wounded heart that they have heard of his passing, and you know you will remain forever in their hearts even you left without saying goodbye, RIP.
