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Senegal's El Hadji Diouf Posted: Saturday May 25, 2002 11:57 AM
By Candy Reid, CNNSI.com Senegal has arguably the toughest first round match in the World Cup facing defending champion France on May 31st, but with star striker, El Hadji Diouf on its side things look automatically better. The Senegalese are confident of making round two after their excellent showing in qualification, where of the 14 goals the team scored, Diouf scored nine. Diouf's performances with his country and with his club team Lens led the 21-year-old to become this year's African Footballer of the Year. "I'm very happy. I'm flattered. I think it's a great honor for me and it means Africa trusts me. Now, it's up to me to be an envoy for Africa. I think that if I'm a footballer it's not just for me and my family and for the people of Senegal -- although it's true that they're very important to me -- but it's because I want to be an ambassador for African football." The West African team has many French-based stars, but without a doubt it will be Diouf the team will look to, to lead it into the second round. World Sport, the sports news show that airs on CNN International, previewed many of the individuals expected to shine at the World Cup.
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