Senegal's fans have paid an emotional tribute to their former midfielder Papa Bouba Diop on the second anniversary of his passing.
Ahead of their Group A clash against Ecuador, supporters of the African nation raised banners and shirts, many featuring the midfielder's famous number 19.
One of the posters held aloft showed a picture of Papa Bouba Diop and a message: "True lion never dies."
Papa Bouba Diop won 63 caps for Senegal and scored 11 goals for his national team. The most famous of those was the opening strike at the 2022 World Cup, which gave the Lions of Teranga a shock win over holders France.
The former midfielder left Senegal for Switzerland at the age of 21 and played at Lens in France before spells at Fulham, Portsmouth, West Ham and – briefly – Birmingham.
He retired in 2013 and passed away on November 29, 2020 following a long illness, which French newspaper L'Equipe reported to be neurodegenerative disease ALS.
The former midfielder left Senegal for Switzerland at the age of 21 and played at Lens in France before spells at Fulham, Portsmouth, West Ham and – briefly – Birmingham.
He retired in 2013 and passed away on November 29, 2020 following a long illness, which French newspaper L'Equipe reported to be neurodegenerative disease ALS.
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