AFCON 2025 - Senegal: Illiman Ndiaye the new star in the den

The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, which is held in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026, promises to be one of the most spectacular. The African teams are all moving forward with great ambitions. Three big favourites, however, seem to stand out. These include Morocco, host country, Algeria, twice winner in North Africa and Senegal, one of the most impressive teams in Africa. The latter include in their ranks the best dribbler of the English championship, Iliman Ndiaye. At 25 years old, the former OM player advances as the worthy heir of the legend Sadio Mané.

An overachiever who asserts himself

The observers are unanimous on the new dimension of Ilimane Ndiaye. Monday, on the set of the show Talents d'Afrique, on Canal+, Claude Leroy, former coach of Cameroon and Senegal presents him among the leaders of the Senegalese team. 

“Iliman arrives in Morocco as one of Senegal’s leading players for sure. When he arrived during the 2023-2024 season, I announced on this board that he would be the great revelation to come from the season at OM because I love this player. I find that he is incredibly talented, he is a great dribbler, he is intelligent, he runs all the time. He is truly a great player," 

he said.

He regains his best at Everton even though it was not rosy at OM where they didn’t give him the time." - Claude Le Roy

The one who is affectionately nicknamed 'the white wizard' notes real progress since Ndiaye’s return to the Premier League.

 “There he finds his level at Everton even though it was a failure situation at OM where they didn’t give him the time. He arrives on an absolutely exceptional trajectory. He keeps multiplying the exploits with Everton. The area where the bottom hurt is efficiency. There he begins to score goals, because it has always been a remarkable decisive passer. It has always been an incredible teammate, in the spirit (...) It’s a pleasure to lead this team because there has always been a very nice atmosphere”.

A leader under Pape Thiaw

In the club as well as with the national team, Iliman Ndiaye has been gaining momentum since the summer of 2024, after a difficult season in Marseille. Confined at the time to one side, he has more and more freedom in positioning. A change greatly appreciated by Mamadou Niang, still on the same show.

 'I prefer Iliman free. Passed to circulate as a free electron his movements both on and off the ball: technically very comfortable he posses permanent threats to defenders. He is a player who does not refuse the game. He is always asking for the ball. He constantly wants to have it in his feet to try to combine with Sadio, with midfielders,"

 confessed the former OM legend.

Since October 2024, Iliman Ndiaye has gained more relevance  in this Senegal team. A date coinciding with the arrival of Pape Thiaw, successor of Aliou Cissé. Mamadou Niang associates this change of dimension from Ndiaye with the arrival on the bench of his former competitor in selection. “He is a player who brings a lot. Even if on the side he is effective because he manages to overflow and center. We saw him in the last qualification matches where he was decisive. But the peculiarity is that Pape (editor’s note, Thiaw), gives him a lot of freedom, he doesn’t freeze him on one side. He tactically puts him on one side but lets him play, free to move. He can find himself on the right or behind the attacker. He is the player who has the most offensive freedom.”

With about ten days to go before Senegal enters the competition against Botswana, the other selections are being announced. Facing Senegal, it will now be necessary to be more wary of Illiman Ndiaye than of Sadio Mané.