Illiman Ndiaye will play the World Cup 2022 (20 November-18 December) with Senegal. A tournament that can allow the 22-year-old player, in full flow, to show himself with the Lions of Teranga, but also to the face of the world.
Some crackers break everything in their debut, while others are forced to fight to be on the front line. Iliman Ndiaye is in the second category. The Sheffield player had to gamble, work, go into exile before finally finding a greener grass where to express all his talent.
Moreover, Hassan Talani, his former coach at Rouen Sapins Football Club, which he joined at the age of four, is not surprised to see him in the Senegalese squad for the World Cup. "From a very young age, he stood out from the crowd. He had a gift, but he also worked outside of training with his dad. He was a real warrior who never gave up on the field," he told Franceinfo.
A kid's dream
It is known that Sadio Mané will miss the first match of Senegal against the Netherlands (November 21). Moreover, it is not sure that the Bayern player can play a minute in this World Cup. Iliman Ndiaye, given his profile, can take his chance and finally express his talent with the Lions. Since his first selection against Benin in qualifying for the AFCON 2023 last June 4 (23 minutes played), the player from Sheffield has played only four minutes against Iran (1-1) on September 27 in a friendly and against Bolivia (2-0) on September 24. Creative, fast, technical, with a great ability to play between the lines, the game of Iliman Ndiaye replicates that of Sadio Mané. It is not surprising that Liverpool is following him very closely for the next transfer windows.
The 22-year-old player focuses first on his childhood dream. He now represents Senegal, he who was born in Rouen, France. Hassan Talani reveals a lifelong goal of Iliman Ndiaye. "He always told me he wanted to play for Senegal. It was his dream since he was a child and it is well deserved! He did everything for it, he always worked, he never gave up and he is rewarded".
The season of explosion
Since his arrival in Sheffield in 2019, Iliman Ndiaye shows his talent. But it is this 2021-2022 season that sounds like the one of the blossoming. The striker is now top scorer in the Championship with 9 goals. We can also add two assists to his credit. Statistically, he is already doing better than last season when he scored 7 goals in 30 games. In Sheffield's 3-5-2 formation, he plays with the Scotsman McBurnie in the centre. This gives him complete freedom.
The moment he'd waited for. ❤️🇸🇳
We're all proud of you, @iliman_ndiaye. 🫶🏾 pic.twitter.com/Khac7aIyA3
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) November 11, 2022
Aliou Cissé will have to work hard to replace Sadio Mané. But fortunately for him, there is no lack of options. Among others, Ismaïla Sarr, Boulaye Dia, Niccolas Jackson, and Illiman Ndiaye, the best Senegalese scorers called to the World Cup behind Sadio Mané.
