For over a month, El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf, the former double Senegalese Ballon d’Or winner (2001-2002), has been staying in Dakar, frequenting hotels and upscale circles of the Dakar Jet Set, despite being a professional player under contract with English Championship club Leeds United.
His extended stay in Senegal has raised concerns, particularly because Leeds is currently in the midst of the championship season and could potentially benefit from Diouf’s services in their quest to climb back into the Premier League. Leeds is currently in 9th place with 26 points. However, Diouf’s contract with Leeds United extends until June 2014, implying that he has no immediate reason to be in Dakar.
Diouf was spotted at the Demba Diop stadium in Dakar on Tuesday, attending a friendly match between Diaraf from Dakar and Horoya from Conakry, which ended in a 0-0 draw. This has fueled speculation and varied comments about his intentions. Some suggest the possibility of him joining prestigious clubs like Horoya or As Kaloum in Conakry, while others believe he might be in a pre-retirement phase, preparing to take charge of a club.
During the current season, Diouf, originally from Saint-Louis, has only played four matches, with just one start, totaling 120 minutes of play in almost 10 days.
