Former Senegalese football star El-Hadji Diouf has been handed a one-year suspended prison sentence by a Dakar court after failing to meet his child support obligations. The ruling, delivered on May 12, 2026, follows repeated non-payment of financial support for his daughter, triggering legal consequences for the ex-international footballer.
The court also ordered him to pay 10 million West African CFA francs (approximately 15,244 euros) in damages to his ex-wife, Valérie Émilie Joséphine Leres Bishop. This decision comes after she pursued claims for unpaid child support totaling 9 million CFA francs spanning from March 2024 to September 2025, as well as an additional 559,200 CFA francs for meal expenses incurred during that period.
The legal dispute traces back to a July 2023 court ruling that formalized their divorce. At that time, the Dakar judiciary granted custody of their daughter to the mother while mandating Diouf to contribute 500,000 CFA francs monthly toward the child’s upbringing. Despite this financial obligation, he reportedly fell behind on payments, prompting the current legal action.
With an impressive football legacy, Diouf earned 60 caps and scored 18 goals for Senegal’s national team, the Lions of Teranga. His career highlights include back-to-back African Footballer of the Year awards in 2001 and 2002.
