CAN 2025 : comment Habib Diarra a accompli le rêve inachevé de son père
In an interview with L'Observateur, Samba Diarra, former Senegalese international, reflects on his football career, marked by local achievements and a premature end to his playing days. Today, he lives his dream vicariously through his son, Habib Diarra.
At 19, Samba Diarra was a terror in the penalty area. Top scorer in the league with ETICS de Mboro, then runner-up with Linguère de Saint-Louis, he describes himself as a "powerful and technical" striker, with a style comparable to that of Sergio Agüero.
Despite a resounding success with Yeggo in 2000 (winning the Senegalese Cup), his international career came to an abrupt halt. Shortlisted for the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations, he was dropped at the last minute following an administrative dispute with the late Omar Seck, then president of the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) and Jeanne d'Arc, because Samba had chosen to join Jaraaf instead. After stints in Kuwait and Greece (Panetolikos and Kerkyra), a serious knee injury forced him to retire in 2005.
The "No" to Thierry Henry
Regarding his son's choice, the interviewee for the Groupe Futurs Médias newspaper explained that the pressure for him to join Les Bleus was immense: the young midfielder was captain of the youth teams in France.
“Thierry Henry called me personally to try and convince me to let Habib finish his training with the French U21 team, promising me that he could join the French senior national team. I replied that I was a Senegalese international and that my dearest wish was to see my son wear the Senegal jersey.”
The father clarifies that the final decision rested with Habib. Despite his training in France, the young player has never forgotten his roots in Guédiawaye, where he grew up until the age of four. A devoted fan of Idrissa Gana Gueye, Habib turned down French offers as soon as Aliou Cissé called.
Today, seeing his son compete in the Africa Cup of Nations is a true triumph over adversity for Samba Diarra. "It's a great source of pride to see my son fulfill my dream. I even told him he'd just surpassed me in football."
He describes his son as a humble boy with a steely resolve and a winning spirit that he inherited from him. "He exudes a certain pride; he doesn't want to be disrespected and he's the first to admit when his game isn't up to scratch," the former striker concludes.
Commentaires (25)
Son choix pour le Sénégal est tout à son honneur et au votre. C'est une grande fierté pour le Sénégal et un bonheur pour nous les supporters de voir de tels joueurs dans l'équipe.
Felicitations au Papa mais aussi a la MAMAN d'avoir eduque un bon jeune homme laftiat.
A jamais un Diarra, un Gaindé, un Lion
Ma chaa Allah
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