Korea-Japan World Cup star, Bouba Diop dies at 42

Korea-Japan World Cup star and Senegal midfielder Bouba Diop dies at 42 after a long illness

 

Late Papa Bouba Diop wheels away after pouncing on a loose ball to stab home against France at the 2002 world Cup. Senegal won 1-0. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

2020 has been a very challenging year, not just to personal lives across the globe in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak but also with respect to notable names in football like Bouba Dop that have passed away.

People die every day, we don’t need to be reminded but having to pay tribute to names after names has now become a norm in a year like no other and one can’t but wonder how arguably the most promising year turned into a nightmarish one.

Papa Bouba Diop, former Portsmouth, and Fulham midfield enforcer passed away on Sunday after a long illness.

Bouba Diop, famously nicknamed “The Wardrobe” following his towering frame as he stood 6”5 and commanding by all standards. 

He was one of the brave Terenga Lions that stunned France, the defending champions at the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.

Bouba Diop bundled the ball home just after the hour mark in their opening group game against France on Senegal’s debut at the World Cup, he went on to score twice in their 3-3 draw against Uruguay and finished the tournament as Senegal’s highest goal scorer.

Bouba Diop was in Harry Redknapp’s FA Cup-winning side of 2008 after he came on late in the game for Pedro Mendes in a game Nwankwo Kanu scored the winner to edge Portsmouth past Cardiff at the famous Wembley Stadium.

He went on to represent Westham and Birmingham briefly but that was after his spell at Fulham where he first got noticed; Bouba Diop was a combative midfielder and an enforcer of note.

Fulham took to Twitter on Sunday to pay tribute to their former midfielder.

"We are devastated to hear news reports this evening that Papa Bouba Diop has passed away, aged 42. Rest well, Wardrobe."