Former Senegalese international footballer El Hadj Diouf denounced FIFA’s decision to play the game between Senegal and Togo behind closed doors. The meeting was held at the Stade Lat Dior in Thiès on Tuesday 1 September 2021.
The former lions’ striker El Hadj Ousseynou Diouf did not hide his dismay about playing the match of the national team of Senegal without his audience . The Teranga lions played their first match in the 2022 World Cup (Qatar) against Togo (2-0). For El Hadj Diouf, it is unacceptable for Senegal’s national team to play in the absence of its supporters.
I do not agree because I think that FIFA should let us play with our supporters. Senegal needs it, African teams need it. They have more positive cases in Europe than in Africa and they play with the audience. I call on FIFA to reconsider this decision,” the 2002 Generation star on Walf TV roared.
However, some authorities were allowed to enter the stadium. Indeed the former strong man of the lions is right because the European stadiums have started to welcome more people for the matches.
Born in Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania, and spent his childhood in Saint-Louis, the former capital. El-Hadji started football in the neighborhoods as a goalkeeper, a post he left when his team was led to become an attacker, with Jules Bocandé as a model. At the age of 13, he made a name for himself in Dakar during Youth Week. He was pre-selected to the National Under-17 Team managed at the time by Joseph Koto and Mayacine Mar.
