Khadim Ndiaye recalls Demba Ba lesson in Senegal camp

Khadim Ndiaye says facing Demba Ba in Senegal training forced him to recognise the level required to remain competitive with the national team. The former goalkeeper recalled feeling embarrassed when the striker’s shots travelled with extraordinary power, turning a training exercise into a personal lesson.

Ndiaye was playing for Linguère of Saint-Louis during that period and spent much of Senegal’s qualifying campaign for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper. He was later replaced by Bouna Coundoul. His national-team spell also brought him into contact with Senegalese players established in leading European leagues.

Coach Amara Traoré told Ndiaye that he needed to raise his standards if he wanted to establish himself in the national side. The goalkeeper understood that his preparation at club level was not sufficient and changed his routine after returning to Linguère.

He began arriving at the club at 7am for individual work before breakfast, then joined the collective session and added another workout in the evening. Ndiaye, who had also played for ASC Jaraaf, said the demanding schedule was a direct response to what he experienced against Ba and to Traoré’s message about the intensity required at international level.