Indeed, It was him, the first African president among Europeans. He liked this distinction to his territory in the face of the hostility of the European soccer sphere, where Africans already had trouble finding a prominent place among field players, let alone a club manager position.

Indeed, it was him who could proudly thump his chest and boast of being this ingenious African executive who came to bring his expertise in managing a European club.

Indeed, it was him, sometimes with a burlesque and cheerful tone, who constantly reset the opinions of his own or detractors about presenting Barack Obama as the first "black" president among "Whites." He always said NO.

Indeed, it was him, who claimed this identity, this status, this stature... A first-class posture which, much wasn’t just a privilege, but the result of the hard work of managing global and modern football affairs. An aesthete, a purist who certainly had the gift of ubiquity for well-done things, well thought-out to manage a club's journey, to enhance a football player's career plan; to encourage a young agent to integrate well into the modern world of football, to incite young journalists from African media to grasp the vicissitudes of the profession...

Indeed, it was him, with all these merits... because he certainly had this divine and inspiring faculty allowing himself to be everywhere or in several places at the same time.

PAPE DIOUF, YOU WERE THE FIRST AGENT OF OUR WORLD ICON: DIDIER DROGBA;

you were the one who passed on his player agent power to OUR BROTHER THIERNO SEYDI;

you were the one with his second home in Côte d'Ivoire where you found a fraternal atmosphere with your friend, the very available FRANCIS OUÉGNIN;

you were the one who nurtured someone called BASILE BOLI to help him accept his dual cultural affiliation between France and his homeland country Côte d'Ivoire;

you were the one whose humility allowed him to blend into all Ivorian classes in the company of your young buddy, DEFAO;

you were this available man for our brother and sports journalist JOSÉ DJATI for the preparation of his interview book, with the evocative title "Pape Diouf, from you to me." An ink jet that recalls your edifying profile for the younger generations.

PAPE, from you to us. We will forever acknowledge this bombastic feeling you were able to provide when you, "the African," became PRESIDENT OF OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE.

We will remember, in due time, these phrases that kept looping on the tip of your lips.

"I am the only black president of a club in Europe. It is a painful observation, reflecting the European and, especially, French society, which excludes ethnic minorities."

With all the difficult requirements that this position of Club President could entail. A high-risk position in an environment exposed to pressure, to the heightened expectations of European fans and supporters who could demand much more from the African leader.

Dean Pape, you had the advantage and the vast experience of knowing intricacies of this environment.

At the time, it was you indeed, in the late 1980s, who personally took charge of directing African footballers on the Old Continent.

Antoine Bell, Basile Boli asked you to take or (re)take charge of directing their careers. It sets a precedent.

It was therefore you, the initiator of this meteoric success of several African and Caribbean island players. Among others: Marcel Desailly, François Omam-Biyik, Bernard Lama, William Gallas, Abedi Pelé, Rigobert Song, Péguy Luyindula, Didier Drogba.

It was therefore you, the African manager who succeeded in placing players from all spheres of the world in your stable: Grégory Coupet, Sylvain Armand, Samir Nasri...

It was therefore you, this tall, elegant black man, prolix as desired and convincing; who deployed his thick mustache, with a sometimes candid and often rigid verb to conclude the merciless debates of football business on the transfer market of your players.

It was therefore you behind the famous departure of our Didier Drogba to England. A transfer to Chelsea, sealed for about 35 million euros where it all began.

It was therefore you...

And now? Dean Pape Diouf, we will not stop evoking all aspects of your rich life.

We had thought of your retirement, your consultancies for your expertise on television sets and radio waves.

We had thought you would continue to enjoy life, get closer to your African brothers, to your young African colleagues, to whom you would continue to recycle with courses and good notions of journalism.

We had thought... Of what? Of everything... Except this! This malevolent virus.

Dean Pape Diouf, you would have shown the world the immense expertise of an African executive.

For good reason, the European newspaper L'ÉQUIPE honored you in its publication of this day (the day after your death) by designating you, for posterity and forever, as OUR POPE.

From one of your many African godchildren, Adam Khalil, Ivorian sports journalist. Thank you for everything...