• Latest
  • Trending
Today In Sports History: Senegal stun France in 2002 World Cup

Today In Sports History: Senegal stun France in 2002 World Cup

May 31, 2019
YFM Accra revitalizes Mensah Sarbah Hall week with star-studded campus entertainment

YFM Accra revitalizes Mensah Sarbah Hall week with star-studded campus entertainment

July 8, 2025
GWF Officially Launches 2025 African Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship

GWF Officially Launches 2025 African Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship

July 8, 2025
My friend is gone- Bawumia pays tribute to late Akwatia MP

My friend is gone- Bawumia pays tribute to late Akwatia MP

July 8, 2025
President Mahama warns Gold abusers, as smugglers would face penalties

President Mahama warns Gold abusers, as smugglers would face penalties

July 8, 2025
Chief Justice files fresh case at ECOWAS Community Court over her suspension

Chief Justice files fresh case at ECOWAS Community Court over her suspension

July 8, 2025
Trump delays tariff hike, renews threat against key trading partners

Trump delays tariff hike, renews threat against key trading partners

July 8, 2025
Kenya’s saba saba protests hits deadly, as 11 people confirmed killed

Kenya’s saba saba protests hits deadly, as 11 people confirmed killed

July 8, 2025
NaCCA Urges Publishers to Align Books with Curriculum Standards to Boost Learning

NaCCA Urges Publishers to Align Books with Curriculum Standards to Boost Learning

July 8, 2025
International Youth Day: NYA Partners with YFM to Celebrate Youth Month in August

International Youth Day: NYA Partners with YFM to Celebrate Youth Month in August

July 8, 2025
Chief Justice files fresh case at ECOWAS Community Court over her suspension

Chief Justice Suspension: Government awaits Committee report- President Mahama

July 8, 2025
Ahafo NDC executives vow to deal with saboteurs in government institutions

Ahafo NDC executives vow to deal with saboteurs in government institutions

July 8, 2025
Suaman Market to roll out 24-Hour policy soon - DCE reveals

Suaman Market to roll out 24-Hour policy soon – DCE reveals

July 8, 2025
Happy Ghana
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
    • International Sports
    • Afcon2017
    • Afcon2019
    • Corporate Knockout
    • U17 World Cup
    • World Cup 2018
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Bizarre
  • Feature
  • More
    • Technology
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyle
  • Listen Live
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
    • International Sports
    • Afcon2017
    • Afcon2019
    • Corporate Knockout
    • U17 World Cup
    • World Cup 2018
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Bizarre
  • Feature
  • More
    • Technology
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyle
  • Listen Live
No Result
View All Result
Happy Ghana
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports

Today In Sports History: Senegal stun France in 2002 World Cup

in Sports
Today In Sports History: Senegal stun France in 2002 World Cup
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp

On this day 31 May 2002 (Exactly 17 years ago) Senegal shocked France and the footballing world by claiming victory in the opening game of the FIFA World Cup.

Midfielder Pape Bouba Diop upstaged France’s cast of star names to score the decisive first goal of the tournament after 30 minutes.

The defending champions struggled to find their stride and clearly suffered from Zinedine Zidane’s withdrawal through injury.
In his absence it was left to Senegal’s El Hadji Diouf to claim the starring role.

Diouf repeatedly harassed the French defence into mistakes and was instrumental in Bouba Diop’s goal.

After all the hype and build-up and a spectacular opening ceremony, the first match of the tournament lived up to expectations – even if France did not.

Roger Lemerre’s team were patient to the extent of being pedestrian at times, and in an open game their probing play was often predictable.

Senegal captain Aliou Cisse shone at the back, sitting in front of his defence, marshalling his men and snuffing out any signs of danger.

And further up the field it was the 21-year-old Diouf who stole the limelight.

The African footballer of the year signalled his intent in the early stages, beating Marcel Desailly on the right flank, before turning his attentions to Frank Leboeuf.

The ageing Leboeuf had been pinpointed as the Achilles heel of the French line-up and was unable to cope with Diouf’s pace.

Diouf, playing as a lone striker, took on the 34-year-old, and raced clear on the half-hour mark before crossing to the centre from the by-line.

His Lens club team-mate Bouba Diop was on hand to steal in and make the most of a misunderstanding between Emmanuel Petit and Fabien Barthez to score.

Barthez and Petit’s misjudgement at the near post was symptomatic of France’s play.

The goal failed to ignite ‘Les Bleus’. Despite enjoying the majority of possession they lacked the inspiration and imagination that Zidane provides.

Trezeguet and Thierry Henry had chances which they failed to convert and Patrick Vieira’s free header from a corner went straight to goalkeeper Tony Sylva.

Instead it was Senegal who were to go closest, Khalilou Fadiga skimming the crossbar having twisted and turned Leboeuf to a standstill in the build up.

Fadiga’s effort stung France into action and moments later, after latching on to a Christophe Dugarry flick-on, Henry stabbed a shot onto Sylva’s crossbar.

But France were unable to sustain their efforts over the remaining 25 minutes bar a last-ditch Henry effort that Sylva saved at the second attempt.

France: Barthez, Thuram, Leboeuf, Desailly, Lizarazu, Wiltord (Cisse 81), Petit, Djorkaeff (Dugarry 60), Vieira, Henry, Trezeguet.

Subs Not Used: Rame, Candela, Christanval, Makelele, Zidane, Silvestre, Boghossian, Sagnol, Coupet, Micoud.
Booked: Petit.

Senegal: Sylva, Daf, Coly, Diao, Diouf, Pape Bouba Diop, Cisse, Diatta, Pape Malick Diop, Moussa N’diaye, Fadiga.

Subs Not Used: Sarr, Ndour, Henri Camara, Traore, Souleymane Camara, Faye, Diallo, Thiaw, Sylvain N’diaye, Beye, Cissoko, Mahktar N’diaye.
Booked: Cisse.

Goals: Pape Bouba Diop 30.
Att: 62,561

Referee: A Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates).

BY:GEORGE ‘Alan Green’ MAHAMAH

Tags: 2002 World CupFIFA World CupFranceGeorge MahamahSenegalToday In Sports History

Subscribe to receive notification everytime a new post is published. We promise to be discrete.

Unsubscribe
Previous Post

Respect Coach Kwesi Appiah, Dede Ayew unreservedly- Nana Addo to Black Stars

Next Post

People to People Exchange; the pivot for a sustained Africa-China cooperation – Timothy Karikari

Next Post
People to People Exchange; the pivot for a sustained Africa-China cooperation – Timothy Karikari

People to People Exchange; the pivot for a sustained Africa-China cooperation – Timothy Karikari

Search

No Result
View All Result

Listen Live

BBC Match of the Day Africa

Happy Ghana

Recent News

  • YFM Accra revitalizes Mensah Sarbah Hall week with star-studded campus entertainment
  • GWF Officially Launches 2025 African Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship
  • My friend is gone- Bawumia pays tribute to late Akwatia MP
  • About
  • advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Happy FM – Powered by Ghana’s leading radio network. Designed with passion by Global Media Alliance.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sports
    • International Sports
    • Afcon2017
    • Afcon2019
    • Corporate Knockout
    • U17 World Cup
    • World Cup 2018
  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Bizarre
  • Feature
  • More
    • Technology
    • Opinion
    • Lifestyle
  • Listen Live

© 2025 Happy FM – Powered by Ghana’s leading radio network. Designed with passion by Global Media Alliance.