Senegalese referee Badara Sene who officiated the final match of the 1992 African Cup of Nations between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire has died after short illness.
He passed away on Monday, 22 June 2020. He was 73.
A man of many parts, he is fondly remembered for officiating the final of the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations between Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. He also participated in the 1988 and 1990 editions of the continental showpiece event.
We mourn the death of Badara Sene, former FIFA referee from Senegal, with a very important role in African refereeing, member of both CAF and FIFA referee committees. Inside Africa, Senegalese school of refereeing has been always enhanced, thank to him.
— Law 5 – The Ref (@Law5_TheRef) June 22, 2020
May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/OdzwjtWDRI
Speaking about the lost of Badara Sene, a former colleague – Malang Diedhiou said Senegal has indeed lost a social and honest man.
“He was someone who loved refereeing all his life and who held several positions of responsibility at the CAF level and in Senegal. He’s an honest referee. But also a very social man. On numerous occasions, he has traveled to provide support to people.”
“I remember a competition in which I had a good match and they wanted to give me another. But I had an injury. He came to see me and to give me his advice. In the end, I listened to his advice and decided not to take this match, because I was not at my best level and it could affect my career.”
Sene officiated at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship (now FIFA U-20 World Cup) in Saudi Arabia and the 1992 AFC Asian Cup in Japan as well as the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.
After retirement, he spent some time as head of the Referees Department of the Senegal Football Federation before his election as the Mayor of Rufisque, 25-kilometres south-east of the capital, Dakar from 2009 till 2014.
Sene also served as a Vice President of the CAF Referees Committee between 2012 and 2017, as well as a member of the FIFA Referees Committee.
