His coach Bruno Metsu says that he is the type of player you need to deliver the final decisive pass and is destined for bigger things than his current club Auxerre in the French League.

Right now the biggest thing on Khalil Fadiga's mind is winning the Cup of Nations. "It's very important for us because we have never won the African Nations Cup. It is not only preparation for the World Cup as we want to prove we are the best in the group of teams going to the World Cup.

"Now, though, we only think of the Nations Cup. We've finished with the Egyptian team (after their opening 2002 group D game) and are concentrating on the Zambian team."

In a tournament like this the first game is the most important. It was
difficult for everyone and I don't think the pitch was very good. But, I'm
very happy for everyone because it's the first time since 1986 that Senegal has beaten the Egyptian team.

Fadiga was a new member of the team at CAN 2000 when the Senegalese ran the Nigerians close in an epic quarter-final. He can see where the team has improved. "All the players are playing in Europe so we have more experience than 2000. This is why we have more confidence. I think the way we move the ball from both left to right and right to left and the maturity of the side is also better. We have a good fighting spirit and it is difficult to beat us."

Fadiga and his team will need all that and more in their opening World Cup finals match this summer against defending Champions France.

It will have special significance for Fadiga as he left Senegal when only
six years old for France. He says he knows the streets of Paris better than those of Dakar. In fact, he could also have played for a third country as his wife hails from Belgium.

"I feel Senegalese, when I was home, everybody would speak our language, we listened to Senegalese radio and music, we ate Senegalese food. I share both cultures but I have a lot of family over in Senegal and my colour is Senegalese."

Fadiga has played in Belgium for Mechelen and Lommel and they tried to recruit in the way they have integrated the Mpenza brothers. Fadiga always wanted to play for Senegal.

He's achieved that dream and now there is another Nations Cup. After taking on Egypt he said: "I hope all the games won't be like today, but the scores will be like today. 1-0 or 2-0, but I don't want a single defeat."

The fanatical Lions fans will agree with that.