Former Senegalese football star El-Hadji Diouf has been handed a one-year suspended prison sentence by a Dakar court for failing to pay court-ordered child support. The ruling comes after months of legal disputes regarding his financial obligations toward his daughter.
In addition to the suspended sentence, the two-time African Footballer of the Year (2001, 2002) was ordered to pay 10 million FCFA (approximately €15,244) in damages to his ex-wife, Valérie Émilie Joséphine Leres Bishop. The compensation covers unpaid support spanning from March 2024 to September 2025, totaling 9 million FCFA, as well as 559,200 FCFA in meal expenses for their child.
The legal battle intensified after social media posts by rapper KiliFeuu highlighted the unpaid obligations. During the couple’s divorce finalized in July 2023, Senegalese courts had previously ruled that Diouf’s daughter would live with her mother, while he was required to pay a monthly allowance of 500,000 FCFA for the child’s upbringing.
With 60 appearances and 18 goals for Senegal’s national team, the Lions of Teranga, Diouf’s case has drawn significant public attention, particularly regarding his compliance with family court rulings.
