Senegal: El Hadji Diouf

Senegal’s World Cup ambitions hinge on the performances of a reformed wildman known as ‘the serial killer’.

Striker El Hadji Diouf was African Player of the Year in 2001 and oozes optimism, having consigned an undesirable bad-boy image to his teenage years.

He claimed last year that Senegal could win the World Cup, but had revised his view by January.

‘‘Why shouldn’t I win everything this year - French Cup, the league, the African Nations Cup?’’ he asked.

‘‘The World Cup? That will be more difficult but I believe we have a team capable of making an impact.’’

The African Nations title just eluded the Senegalese, as they reached the final in Mali only to lose 3-2 to Cameroon on penalties.

Diouf was one of three Senegal players to fail from the spot, but by that stage he had run his boots off against an experienced Cameroon defence.

He garnered a reputation as an awkward character during his formative years in France, frequently going missing during matches and collecting unnecessary suspensions.

But a move from Rennes to Lens two years ago, made permanent last summer, has changed his outlook.

On learning of his African award win, Diouf said: ‘‘What is important now is that I don’t let this go to my head.

‘‘From today, I’m going to become more important on the pitch. I have to be an example and take care of myself on the pitch and off.’’

World Cup debutants Senegal feature more France-based players than the French team they are to face in the tournament curtain-raiser.

That is a match, incidentally, which Senegal president Abdoulaye Wade believes his country’s national team will win.

‘‘We will beat France 1-0 in the opening match,’’ he said on French television last autumn.

‘‘Every Senegalese and myself are looking forward to that match.’’

Few doubt that 90% of Bruno Metsu’s squad will be Le Championnat regulars - even the coach is a Frenchman ﷓ and Diouf would be pressing for a place in Roger Lemerre’s ‘Les Bleus’ squad had he not pledged allegiance to his country of birth.

Diouf’s pace and power has been the scourge of French league defenders since his days at Rennes.

But since joining Lens, the youngster has added no little skill to his raw ability and he goes to the World Cup as perhaps the most in-form of the African strikers.

He is sure to stand out, regardless of how he performs, due to the peroxide-blond closely-cropped hair he often sports.

It was his performances in World Cup qualifying, more than his achievements with Lens, which saw him voted Africa’s top player.

He earned his ‘serial killer’ tag due to a string of superlative performances and scored nine of Senegal’s 14 goals including two hat-tricks.

But it is more than a goalscoring edge he will take to Korea in May.

The new Diouf is a creator, a player capable of holding up the ball, and a team player at last.

Football’s biggest platform is made for he and Senegal to stake their claim as Africa’s brightest hopes.

The Group A match against France will be among the most watched of the entire month.

‘‘To take part in the opening match is incredible,’’ said Diouf.

‘‘It was great to just qualify for the World Cup for the first time. This really is the cherry on the cake.

‘‘The whole world will be able to have a look at our team. I remain convinced we can cause a surprise.’’