Elhadji Diouf, the enfant terrible of senegalese football…

January 11th, 2008 | by: Magnusson | Comments(4)

Criticized for his highly entertaining night-escapades, his judicial problems and his more than questionnable sport performances, the captain of Senegal, El Hadji Diouf nevertheless manages to preserve an unequalled popularity with the supporters, who count on him to pick up the country’s first trophy in the next CAN come February 10th.

It’s in eleven days that the Lions of Senegal will enter the Cup, against Tunisia in Tamale (Rami and I won’t be talking trash, trust us) and the turbulent number 11 of the “Lions of Teranga” have people talking more about his performances in the nightclubs of Dakar than on the pitch, which gave him two consecutive African Player of the Year trophies (2001-2002). Yet it seems that the general public can’t seem to fall out of love with him like it has happened in similar cases all around Africa (Okocha, Bocandé, Adébayor, etc…). What’s the reason for his undying popularity?

“Diouf is the best Senegalese football player of all time and the Senegalese will never bea able to forget his performances from the World Cup in 2002. He’s the symbol of the team and an icon to his compatriots and as they say, when we love, we can forgive anything, so the public forgets escapades “

Mamadou Diouf (no relation), former president of the “Association Nationale de la Presse Sportive du Sénégal.

It’s true that in 2002, “Dioufy” as he’s called in England, allowed us Senegal to qualify for the first World Cup of our history and to reach the quarterfinals of the competition, after a more than symbolic victory during the opening match against France (1-0), former colonizer and reigning World Champions.
At the time Diouf was just the best damn player in France, period and dominated the whole competition, being traded to Liverpool before even reaching Korea. It must be said that at the time, the kid was just that, a kid that was promised to a more than bright future. If he hasn’t lost anything of his abilities, it seems that he decides to tun it on and off when he wants. Sometimes, it is just too late for the team that has been expecting marvels from the superstar. Let’s see how well he plays this year.

It must be said, to the credit of the Saint-louis native, that he has never been a locker-room cancer or an egocentric like his status could have let perceive. He genuinely seems to enjoy the company of his teammates and is the life of the party. And the armband wether we like it or not has been more than benefic for him since he seems to want to set an example even more now. I was more than pissed when Kasperczack took it from homebodies like Omar Daf and Habib Bèye to give it to him but it suits him.
Something else, Diouf has played nearly every position for the national team just for the sake of the team, to allow players like Niang and Kamara (or the Camaras – Henri or Souleymane) to be at a more comfortable position for them.
Let’s now forget the partying with Akon, the spitting on supporters and wthe boozing for a month Elhadji and maybe we can get back on top.