Senegal's hero Boba Diop is no more in the 2002 World Cup

Sports Desk: Remember the Japan-South Korea World Cup 18 years ago? For those who still remember the World Cup, Senegal was a wonder. The country was a newcomer to the World Cup.

But in the first match they surprised the world. Defending champion France lost. Thierry Henri-Fabian Barthez had to leave the field with his head bowed after losing to Senegal in the only goal of the match. The former Fulham midfielder lost his battle for life last Sunday at the age of 42 after a long illness. Not only against France, but in the 3-3 draw against Uruguay in the 2002 World Cup, a pair of goals came from Diop's feet. All in all, Papa Bauba Diop was one of the leaders who took the West African country to the quarter finals in that World Cup.

In addition to Fulham in his club football career, the legendary Senegalese footballer has represented West Ham and Birmingham City in 129 matches in the English Premier League. "Once a World Cup hero, he will always be a World Cup hero," wrote FIFA, the governing body of world football. Expressing grief over Diop's death, his former club Fulham wrote, "We are devastated. Rest in peace, wardrobe. 'Note that Diop was known by this name in Fulham. Diop also played a key role in making the country runners-up in the 2002 African Nations Cup.

The former Senegalese footballer was a notable member of the Harry Rednap-trained Portsmouth Club in 2006 who won the FA Cup that year.