Football legend 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 a legal dispute involving his daughter’s welfare and unpaid alimony to his former spouse.
The former Senegal national team striker was also ordered to pay 10 million FCFA (€15,244) in compensation to his ex-wife, Valérie Émilie Joséphine Leres Bishop, covering both overdue payments and meal expenses for their child. The court’s decision addresses claims for 9 million FCFA in arrears from March 2024 to September 2025, alongside 559,200 FCFA for food-related costs.
Legal records show that in July 2023, the court had already ruled on the divorce, granting custody to the mother while mandating Diouf to pay a monthly allowance of 500,000 FCFA for their daughter’s upkeep. Despite this prior judgment, the payments were not consistently fulfilled, prompting further legal action.
With 60 caps and 18 goals for the Senegal national team, Diouf remains one of the country’s most celebrated football figures. His legal troubles underscore the importance of adhering to court-ordered financial responsibilities, particularly in matters involving child welfare.
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