Coronavirus: the world of football mourns Pape Diouf, "a great president, a huge man, a friend"

The world of football is turned upside down. And tributes have multiplied, on social networks and elsewhere, after the death in Dakar on Tuesday at 68 years of Pape Diouf, the former president of OM from 2005 to 2009, from the aftermath of Covid-19. "Very sad to learn of the disappearance of Pape Diouf ... he will leave a unique memory in Marseille. Thoughts moved for his family and those close to him, ”moves Marseille champion Florian Thauvin.

Very sad to learn of the disappearance of Pape Diouf ... he will leave a unique memory in Marseille. Thoughts moved for his family and loved ones 🙏🏻🖤 pic.twitter.com/hS6uTQhwHg

Another 2018 World Cup winner, Benjamin Mendy, how a photo of the ex-players and journalists agent at La Marseillaise. The Manchester City defender, who played for OM, writes: “A lot of sadness when learning of the death of Pape Diouf. A great president but above all a huge man, who will always have represented OM with dignity and its values. A great loss for French football and the African continent. Rest in peace. "

Former international striker Djibril Cisse who was playing in Marseille under the presidency of Pape Diouf has fond memories of his former president. "I will always remember our discussion a month before I signed for OM and even more than the one we had the week after my injury," writes Cisse. Pope calls me and says: I have only one word, we agreed on your signature at OM and it's not your injury that will make me change my mind about your qualities and that you are a player made to wear the colors of your heart club which is Olympique de Marseille. "

😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 pic.twitter.com/8qm0bijnJB

Marseille President Jacques-Henri Eyraud also spoke to Provence about his predecessor. “I feel a lot of sadness, explained Jacques-Henri Eyraud. I didn't know him, but I had heard a lot about him, read a lot about him as well. Pape Diouf was a physical, a personable person, a charisma. I often heard him speak, it was also a culture, a pen, a mastery of the French language. Beyond the sport, he had a very particular personality which I understand that it could arouse so many adhesions. The club will give him the homage he deserves when the time comes, even if in this period we can not do everything we want, as for Michel Hidalgo (the former European champion coach in 1984 and former director OM sportsman was buried this Tuesday in Marseille). "

And on this sad Tuesday for football, there is no longer any rivalry that holds. PSG thus salutes the memory of the former president of OM on its twitter account. “PSG offers its condolences to the family of Pape Diouf and to OM. The club brings them all their thoughts of support and solidarity in these painful moments at a time when African football is losing a great figure. "

The @PSG_inside offers its condolences to the family and loved ones of Pape Diouf, as well as to the @ OM_Officiel. The Club brings them all its thoughts of support and solidarity in these painful moments at a time when French and African football is losing a great figure.

The Parisian star Kylian Mbappé did not hide his emotion either: “No room for rivalry tonight. Very sad to learn of the death of a monument to our football, my condolences to the Diouf family. His teammate Idrissa Gueye, Senegalese like the former leader, displays his desolation. "I am shocked and saddened to learn of the death of this great man," said the PSG community. Rest in peace, Mr. Pape Diouf. All our thoughts are for his family, my sincere condolences. "

No room for rivalry tonight. Very sad to learn of the death of a monument to our football, my condolences to the Diouf family.

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 #StayAtHome

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"Few people in the world of football have touched me or had an impact as you may have had in my life or in my career, says on his Instagram account Samir Nasri, of which Diouf was the agent before that the midfielder does not sign OM for… President Diouf. You have always been a mentor, you have been my first agent, you have been my president and it is with a heavy heart that I must say goodbye. You left too early, I will never forget you. "And the emotion also overflows with Franck Ribéry, OM striker of the Pape Diouf era, on Twitter:" Deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Pape Diouf. All our thoughts and prayers to his family. "

And while Basile Boli, emblematic Olympian defender and player managed by Pape Diouf, cries "my guardian angel throughout my career, a very good friend. His unique voice will be forever missed, "Jean-Michel Aulas, president of OL and favorite rival of Pape Diouf, greets" a great president, a straight, passionate, and just man ".

@OL @mohamedbouhafsi @TeamOM_Officiel 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏A great president a straight, passionate, and just man.

Finally, French football boss Noël Le Graët testifies: "He was an important man in our football, a quality man, atypical, listened to and respected, with a real personality who had respect for the game, the players, the men . He was passionate, with conviction and always extremely courteous. On behalf of the French Football Federation, I extend my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones. "