World Cup Fever Strikes Rutgers
Rutgers Family from Senegal Supports Their Team at Pre-World Cup Practice
When Papa Macissé Diop learned that the soccer team from his home country of Senegal whom he has followed since he was a young boy would be practicing at his alma mater, he could not believe it.
“I would call it divine intervention,” says Papa Macissé, who earned a degree in finance from Rutgers–New Brunswick in 2021. “Who would have thought that our home country soccer team would be placed and training here at Rutgers in New Brunswick, which we called home for a long time? It is really something special.”
Papa Macissé met up with his younger brother Mohamed Diop, a 2023 Rutgers Business School graduate, and younger sister Fatima Diop, a rising junior studying political science at Rutgers–New Brunswick, to attend the Senegal soccer team pre-World Cup practice at the Miller Family Practice Field in Piscataway. Their father, Maleye Diop, a civil engineer, attended graduate school at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers earning an executive certificate. He joined his children a few days later to attend the Senegal soccer team’s first match against France in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Maleye, who retired last month, had a long career with the United Nations Development Programme and previously worked with the government of Senegal as well as served in senior roles in New York, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Republic of Congo.
The Senegal soccer team had a tough first match, losing to France 3-1. Father Maleye had hoped for victory recalling the Senegal-France soccer match at the 2002 World Cup. That tournament took place in South Korea and Japan.
In the opening game of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Senegal, known as the Lions of Teranga, defeated France, who were European Champions at that time. The 1-0 victory on May 31, 2002, was one of the greatest upsets in soccer history, Maleye says.
For Mohamed, who graduated from Rutgers with a degree in finance in 2023 and is a public policy graduate student at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, it is “a full circle” moment, he says. He recalls traveling to Qatar to watch Senegal lose in the Round of 16 in the last World Cup, and now he is excited to see them warm up for their 2026 World Cup at his beloved Rutgers.
‘More Than a Game’
The team has their work cut out for them as they are in a tough group with France, Iraq, and Norway, referred to as “the group of death.” “Everyone is coming with a point to prove,” says Papa Macissé. “It is going to be extremely hard, but I think they can do what Morocco did in the last World Cup: make a big push to be the first African team to reach a semi-final. I think we have what it takes to replicate that.”
Mohamed agrees with his brother. “We have a great team,” he says.
Beating France would have meant something more to the Senegalese, because of their country’s history, Mohamed says. “Just to give context, it’s more than a game,” he says. “Senegal’s history is very rich. France was our colonizer and this was a chance to beat France.”
The Senegalese got their independence from France in 1969 and formed a democracy. Next up, Senegal is scheduled to face Norway on June 22 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
“Obviously, we’re all avid soccer fans,” Mohamed says. “We watch it religiously.”
Both brothers played soccer on Rutgers intramural teams. When Mohamed realized that he “could not take soccer to the next level,” he found another way to play. “As a very competitive person, I just decided to shift it toward something I could take to the next level, which was esports.”
Mohamed, who represents D.C. United in the eMLS (the esports version of Major League Soccer), goes by the username KingCJ0. He finished the 2021 FIFA season as the North American PlayStation Champion and a Top 12 global qualifier for FIFA in esports, and travels internationally for tournaments.
Welcome Celebration
The Diop siblings say they were excited to join the Senegal soccer team’s welcome celebration with the Rutgers Marching Scarlet Knights, the Scarlet Knight mascot, members of Rutgers soccer teams, cheerleaders, Director of Athletics Kelli Zinn and President William F. Tate IV.
The soccer team entered the Rodkin Academic Success Center to the band playing the Rutgers Fight Song “The Bells Must Ring” and a cheering crowd. The team then headed out to the practice field to stretch, run laps, and scrimmage. The Diops, who sported their beloved team’s jerseys, chatted in French with other Senegalese fans and the brothers took turns doing interviews with the Senegalese media.
Fatima, who is excited for her junior year, is one of the editors of the Eagleton Political Journal. As she looks forward to studying abroad in Hong Kong in the fall, she says she is enjoying this special time with her brothers and watching her favorite team practice. Attending Rutgers has been a wonderful experience for her.
Her father Maleye says he enjoyed studying at Rutgers as well as its proximity to New York where he traveled often for professional engagement with United Nations staff. He encouraged all three of his children to attend the university. “I had a great experience at Rutgers, which is why I sent all my kids to Rutgers.”
Maleye, who currently lives in South Africa, says he plans to follow his cherished soccer team and travel before settling down perhaps working as a visiting professor to share his experience in development, public policy, international relations and economic diplomacy. His wife, Mame Dieynaba Dia, a medical doctor currently practicing in South Africa, did not join the family in New Jersey.
“I feel very excited,” he says. “I have been coming in and out of the U.S. and it’s kind of my second home. My kids are here, but the simple fact that the team I chose was sent to New Brunswick was something that I really enjoy. It is good for Senegal to be connected to Rutgers.”
Maleye is hopeful that this new relationship will open doors and bring more students from Senegal to study at Rutgers.
The siblings say they were not surprised that the Senegal team chose to practice at Rutgers because the university is known for its state-of-the-art facilities.
Fatima and her brothers took photos and videos when team members jogged near them. “There is not a big Senegalese community here, so it’s just nice seeing the Senegal team here at Rutgers,” she says.
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