Without doubt the African Cup of Nations’s best young player, Karim Hagui was simply a revelation. The 20-year-old’s form at right-back was so good that Tunisia’s best player, Ajax’s half-fit Hatem Trabelsi, was not really missed and, even when he did come on as a substitute, Hagui showed he is just as comfortable in midfield or at left-back.

Huge crowds, extravagant financial rewards, highly organised teams forcing mind-numbingly dull tactical draws – it happens in Africa, too. On Friday, Zamalek, of Egypt, host Raja Casablanca, of Morocco, in the second leg of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions’ League final, with -million going to the winners.

It is not easy asking a man who has lost 12 members of his family, including aunts and uncles, how he is coping, particularly when the same ferry disaster cost the lives of many of his friends and more than 1 000 compatriots.

Before he’d even kicked a ball in international football, El Hadji Diouf received his first standing ovation.