Former Senegal and Fulham midfielder Papa Bouba Diop has died. Diop made 129 appearances in the Premier League and also had spells in England with West Ham United and Birmingham City.
Former Senegal, Fulham and Portsmouth midfielder Papa Bouba Diop has died aged 42.
He played for Senegal at the 2002 World Cup, scoring the winner in the tournament’s opening game as his country beat France 1-0. “Once a World Cup hero, always a World Cup hero,” Fifa posted on social media.
A post on Fulham’s Twitter account said the club was “devastated” and, using Diop’s nickname, added: “Rest well, Wardrobe.”
Senegal eventually reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, with Diop going on to score twice more in the 3-3 group-stage draw with Uruguay.
He also featured at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, including when Senegal were runners-up in 2002. Diop helped Portsmouth win the FA Cup in 2008 and retired in 2013.
Source – BBC News
