Heroic Senegal Players Pay Tribute to the Late Papa Diop After Reaching World Cup Round of 16

• Senegal players paid tributes to late striker Papa Diop after the Teranga Lions beat Ecuador in their final group game
• Kalidou Koulibaly scored the winner as the African champions progressed to the last 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup
• The Lions of Teranga will next face the 1966 World Cup winner England after finishing second in Group A

Players of the Senegalese national football team paid a glowing tribute to the late Papa Bouba Diop, after beating Ecuador to reach the last 16 of the World Cup.

Captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who wore a special armband in remembrance of Diop exactly two years after his death, netted the winner for the African champions in the final Group A game.

After the game, the players celebrated in front of their fans with huge banners of the ex-footballer.

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In photos which were shared on social media, the Teranga Lions were filled with a cycle of emotion, as they mourned and celebrated at the same time.

Watford winger Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring just before half time after converting from the spot. The Senegal forward elected himself for the penalty which he had won, and made no mistake.

After the break however, Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo levelled for the South Americans, but the equaliser lasted for less than two minutes as Koulibaly bundled home the winner.

Meanwhile, Diop passed away on November 29, 2022 after a long battle with illness. He is fondly remembered for scoring Senegal's first-ever goal at the World Cup.

Koulibaly wears armband in tribute

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Senegal captain Koulibaly wore a special armband to pay tribute to the late Papa Bouba Diop, who had passed away exactly two years ago.

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The Chelsea star wrote 19 on his armband, the jersey number of the legendary forward.

Koulibaly would net the winner as the African champions beat Ecuador in the final Group A game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

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Chelsea defender Koulibaly was Senegal's saviour on November 29, with his first international career goal giving the champions of Africa a 2-1 win over Ecuador.

Senegalese fans all over the world are now celebrating their win thanks to Koulibaly, who proved himself a worthy captain of his national team.

Going into this encounter, Teranga Lions players knew that only a win would get them to the round of 16 at the ongoing 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.