CEOAFRICA sports desk gathered that Bruno Metsu, the late former Teranga Lions of Senegal coach, has been buried in Dakar yesterday.

It was revealed that the burial of the 59-year-old, who died from cancer, was witnessed by eminent personalities, including President Macky Sall of Senegal.

In his speech, President Sall described the Frenchman Metsu, who led Senegal to the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals, as "an example of humanity and virtue". He also called him a "hero among Senegalese heroes".

"In this time of grief and sorrow for our country, I would like to express the ineffable compassion of the Senegalese nation. Today, a true Lion went to sleep," Sall said.

Some of the past and present Senegalese players at the burial includes Leeds United forward El Hadji Diouf and former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Khalilou Fadiga.

Wellwishers waved posters of the coach and wore T-shirts bearing the message "Thank you Metsu" outside the funeral, attended by his widow Viviane Dieye Metsu and his children, as well as leading Senegalese politicians.

Metsu's coffin was draped in the Senegalese flag and the green flag of Islam, a religion to which the coach converted several years ago, taking the name Abdou Karim Metsu.