Pape Diouf, a man of influences on African football

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

Pape Diouf died of coronavirus on March 31, 2020 in Dakar. The Franco-Senegalese has long exercised a discreet but notable influence on African football, whether as an agent of stars like Didier Drogba or André Ayew, as president of Olympique de Marseille or as a simple informed observer of the continent.

Publicity

Pape Diouf was a key figure in Marseille and even French football. But what was his influence on the other side of the Mediterranean? It was huge in terms of image, first of all, judging by the deluge of reactions on social networks , from the football superstar to that of the simple football fan, including those of leaders and other leaders of State. " He was the pioneer in so many things concerning the affairs of football and the management of players from Africa ", for example moved the Ghanaian Anthony Baffoe, who occupies important positions within the African Football Confederation (CAF).

Stars or anonymous, many of them praise the precursor that Pape Diouf was, notably as the first black president of a major club in Europe, Olympique de Marseille (2005-2009). His past as an emblematic journalist (1976-1987) and a players' agent (1987-2004) also made an impression.

Agent and mentor of many icons of the continent

It is also through this latter function that the Franco-Senegalese has perhaps weighed most in the future of continental football. He has in fact managed the careers of many icons of the continent. The list of his ex-protégés is dizzying: Joseph-Antoine Bell, François Omam-Biyik, Abedi Pelé, Rigobert Song, Marc-Vivien Foé, Habib Beye, Frédéric Kanouté, Didier Drogba, André and Jordan Ayew… Not to mention all the French players born in Africa: Basile Boli, Marcel Desailly, Péguy Luyindula, etc.

And, apparently, Pape Diouf was not content to negotiate lucrative contracts with his foals, to believe André Ayew: " You were a grandfather, a father but above all my mentor and even much more than that, you have was my legal guardian when I arrived in France at the age of 14. You welcomed me, you took care of me, you supported and accompanied me in the pursuit of my dream of becoming a professional footballer. At each step you answered present. "

Advice that weighed…

In Africa, Pape Diouf never held important positions when the red carpet was regularly rolled out. The Ministry of Sports of Senegal was thus proposed to him under Abdoulaye Wade. The ex-boss of OM did not even preside over the destinies of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF). What did not prevent it from weighing in the fate of Senegalese football in particular. He thus contributed to the appointments of Claude Le Roy, then Bruno Metsu as coach of the “Lions de la Téranga”, with the successes that we know: an unprecedented 4th place at the CAN for the first, in 1990; and a final at the CAN 2002 as well as a first historic participation in the World Cup, for the second.

… And sometimes harsh criticism

If he was often benevolent towards African football, Pape Diouf could also be acerbic, especially vis-à-vis CAF. The binational did not hesitate to scratch the institution and especially its current president, Ahmad. In 2017, he criticized the decision to increase the number of participating teams in the 2019 edition. Later, in a column for Le Monde , he said: “ The African Football Confederation (CAF) is decidedly unpayable. With his way of being, his dark side, his statements and his actions. It never - or rarely - communicates on the state of its finances, the salary of its president, the privileges granted to the members of the executive committee, the operating costs or the advantages arbitrarily granted to the friends of the institution or to certain alumni. players to reconcile their alliance, at least their neutrality when a problem arises. "

Finally, two months ago, even if he said he did not want to run for the presidency of the Confederation in 2021, he added: " The inconceivable weakness of the administration of CAF calls for sanitation measures and the arrival at the head of a strong man, of a real character, let's say, of a boss capable of rallying all those who really want to work for the development of African football. Pope Diouf would he have made a good boss of continental football, after having indirectly influenced its fate, in many aspects?

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