 Fadiga has moved to Italy |
Football fever is gripping Senegal, fanned by the success of the national side and the lure of fabulous wealth for the country's professional players. Unlike education or business, football offers a fast-track route out of grinding poverty and entry into the elite club of Africa's mega-rich.
"There's such enthusiasm for football in this country... football today has become a means to success and social advancement," said businessman Saer Seck.
He added: "It represents an incredible hope, not just for the player, but for the family, his district or village."
Seck is one of the prime movers behind the Diambars Institute football academy fronted by the Senegalese-born French international midfielder Patrick Vieira. The Senegalese game received a huge boost last year when the national side burst onto the world stage during the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea.
The Lions defeated reigning world champions France in the tournament's opening game and reached the quarter-finals before losing to Turkey.
 Diouf is earning big money |
"It was brilliant, just fantastic. It gave a whole generation the desire to play," said Cheikh Daffe, who turns out for one of Senegal's top clubs, Diaraf Dakar. "Sport in general has become a social elevator," said Dakar-based political analyst Babacar Justin Ndiaye.
"If you go to the British Embassy you'll get a visa straight away because you're not just anybody.
"But if you want to go there to trade, you won't get it. So football has several assets - money and opening the doors of consulates."
The success of the current generation of players has also helped to change the attitudes of many parents.
A decade ago they firmly believed that academic honours alone would guarantee financial security but most of them are now eager converts to the unrivalled earning power of sport.
"And then there's the economic crisis," said Diaraf club doctor Babacar Ngom. "(Footballers) have seen their elder brothers with diplomas fail to find work, so there was no reason to prevent them playing football."
First team players at Diaraf, before bonuses, take home between US$260 and US$430 a month, the same income as a senior civil servant or leading hospital doctor.
And professionals like Inter Milan's new recruit Khalilou Fadiga and Liverpool's El Hadji Diouf can take home up to US$81,550 per week.
This represents untold wealth compared to Senegal's per capita gross domestic product - a yardstick of a country's wealth - of US$1,580 a year in 2001.
MMIX
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Sport in general has become a social elevator 