By BBC Sport Online's Celina Hinchcliffe

Khalilou Fadiga will be sure to start for Senegal in the opening match of
the World Cup finals next summer against defending Champions France.

It is a match with special significance for the Senegalese striker.

He left his native country, Senegal, when he was only six years old and now
feels very much at home in France.

"The truth is that I know the streets of Paris better then the streets of
Dakar but if I play in the World Cup finals against France, I've got to try
to my best to beat them," he said.

With Fadiga¿s parents being French and his wife from Belgium, the Auxerre
striker could have played international football for both nations.

Indeed, he played for Mechelen and Lommel in the Belgium league and did so
well that the national coach tried to recruit him to play for Belgium but
Fadiga's loyalties were always with the Lions.

"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."

But the striker admits it will be strange playing against the French in
Korea and Japan because he does feel such an affinity for France.

However, the 27-year-old is not the only player who will feel torn when
Senegal meet France on 31 May.

Patrick Viera was 16 when he left Senegal for France and started playing
for the French national team.

He will be playing against the country where he spent his childhood.

France versus Senegal is top billing not least because it is the opening
match of the tournament but it is a game which pitches colonial masters
against servants.

France have played former colonies Morocco and Algeria before but never the
Lions. Senegal and Fadiga in particular are keen to show that they are
world class.

"It's better that we haven't played them yet because when we meet on the 31
May, they are going to see what Senegal are made of," a confident Fadiga
concluded.

HAPPY EID-UL-FITR to ALL.

YND

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