BBC SPORT | Football | Africa | The rise of Bouba Diop



By James Copnall in Japan

Pape Bouba Diop's emergence as Senegal's top scorer at the World Cup might not have happened but for the intervention of team mate Henri Camara.

He alerted Bruno Metsu of the player that became the cornerstone of Senegal's World Cup campaign.

At the beginning of the Nations Cup in Mali, Diop was not a guaranteed starter at international level.

Squad profile :Pape Bouba Diop

But he flourished in the atmosphere of confidence Metsu and his commanding performances made him impossible to leave out.

Diop's combination of power and technique has been simply sensational.

His goal against France and two subsequent strikes against Uruguay guaranteed their passage to the next round.

Greener pastures

According to Diop's agent, Nicholas Geiger, Diop's current club, Lens received a fax from Sir Alex Ferguson, expressing Manchester United's interest in the midfielder.

Henri Camara recommended Diop to Metsu

But whether Lens' coach Joel Muller would be prepared to sell a man he just bought in January, with five years remaining on his contract, is another matter.

Senegal stun France

Muller, who used Diop only sparingly last year, has been astonished by the Senegalese midfielder's World Cup performance.

"I am surprised to see Bouba Diop get forward so quickly into attack and be involved in all of his team's best moments, never giving up for an instant," Muller said.

But after his exploits in Korea and Japan, it would be no surprise if Sir Alex Ferguson shells out the cash to bring Diop to Old Trafford.


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