Babacar Diene
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Babacar Diene | ||
| Date of birth | October 25, 1996 | ||
| Place of birth | Thiès, Senegal | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | One Knoxville | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Rider Broncs | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022 | FC Motown | ||
| 2024 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 23 | (1) |
| 2025– | One Knoxville | 30 | (10) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of October 31, 2025 | |||
Babacar Diene (born October 25, 1996) is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a forward for USL League One club One Knoxville. Before becoming a professional, Diene played for FC Motown in USL League Two.
Diene was born to Mody Diene in 1996 in Thiès. He has a younger sister, Khoudia.[1]
Diene graduated from CEM Ballabey High School before attending Rider University.[1]
Career
Amateur and college
In 2022, Diene played for FC Motown in USL League Two.[2] He also helped them win the NPSL title.[3]
Later that year, he joined the Rider Broncs. In 2022, he played all 17 of the Broncs's games and started in 16, scoring 3 goals and 2 assists. The following year, he scored 13 goals and 3 assists across 20 games. The following season, he scored 13 goals and 3 assists across 20 games.[1] On November 1, 2023, Diene scored a hattrick for the Broncs against Saint Peter's in the 4–1 win.[4] While with the Broncs, Diene played with Momo Diop, who originated from the same town in Senegal.[5]
Professional
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
In January 2024, Diene signed with the USL Championship club Pittsburgh Riverhounds.[3][6][7] Riverhounds coach Bob Lilley praised Diene for his speed and finishing ability.[8] He made his debut against New Mexico United on March 9 in the 1-0 loss.[9] In the third game of the season against Louisville City FC, Diene got his first goal contribution, assisting Edward Kizza's goal in the 3-1 loss.[10][11] A few weeks later, Diene scored his first professional goal, finding the back of the net in the 3-1 win over Phoenix Rising FC.[12][13][14] He became a free agent following Pittsburgh's 2024 season.[15]
One Knoxville
On February 3, 2025, Diene was announced as signed by USL League One club One Knoxville for their 2025 season.[16] Diene scored a free-kick, as well as assisting Scott McLeod's goal, in a 0–3 win over Appalachian FC in the U.S. Open Cup.[17]