Former Senegal national team head coach Bruno Metsu passes away

He was the architect of one of the biggest upsets in the history of the World Cup.

For that, Bruno Metsu will always be remembered as a hero in Senegal. 

That night in Seoul saw Senegal, a team considered cannon fodder in a group that featured France, Denmark and Uruguay, stun the defending World and European champions 1-0, thanks to Pape Bouba Diop's goal. 

The Lions of Teranga's Cinderella run continued in the round of 16, where they defeated Sweden to advance to the quarterfinals, becoming the first African side to do so since Cameroon in 1990.

Metsu forged a connection with Senegal that went deeper than sport. He married a Senegalese woman and  converted to Islam, taking on the name Abdul Karim. 

The former footballer, who made stops in Anderlecht, Lille and Nice during his career, went on to manage in the Middle East after his success with Senegal. 

There he captured seven trophies with Al-Ain and Al-Gharafa respectively. 

On Monday, the 59-year-old succumbed to his battle with cancer at a clinic in Coudekerque, France, his hometown. 

Claude Le Roy, a close friend of Metsu, lamented his loss.

"I'm in shock," he said. "He fought like a lion. We had a lot of things in common. It's terrible for him, for Viviane, his wife, and the little ones. I'm thinking about them above all. We had a lot of adventures together. I'll remember a magnificent smile and his love of life."

Senegal's chances of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup took a hit after a 3-1 loss in Abidjan versus Ivory Coast in the first leg of their CAF playoff.

No matter what happens in Casablanca, where the second leg will take place due to riots in Dakar during a match against Ivory Coast last year, the Lions of Teranga will always have that night in Seoul. 

"I think I speak for all Senegalese, when I say that he knew how to talk to players during hard times, and he could find the words to motivate them. After the World Cup, he called me just to say 'thank you' for what I brought to the team. But it was he who brought a lot to African football. He was a very nice man." 

- Henri Camara, a member of the Senegal national team from 1999-2008