Senegal International Friendly: Iliman Ndiaye Gives Lions 1-0 Win

Senegal secured a 1-0 victory over Comoros in an international friendly at Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome, with Iliman Ndiaye scoring the only goal. The match brought together two African national teams during the international break, but the result was decided almost immediately. Ndiaye’s finish gave Senegal an early lead that the Lions protected until the final whistle.

The game opened with a tribute to Pape Diouf, the former president of Olympique de Marseille. The ceremony added a strong local connection to an evening that already carried special meaning for Ndiaye. The Senegal international returned to the stadium where he had previously played for Marseille, this time wearing the national team shirt in front of supporters who knew him from his club spell.

Senegal took control in the fifth minute. Ibrahim Mbaye delivered a cross from the left, and Ndiaye moved in front of the Comoros defence to meet its trajectory. The right winger redirected the ball into the net, opening the scoring with a close-range finish. The move was quick and direct, with Mbaye’s delivery allowing Ndiaye to attack the space in front of goal before the Comoros defence could react.

The early goal established the pattern of the contest. Senegal had found the breakthrough through a coordinated attacking sequence, while Comoros were forced to respond after conceding inside the opening stages. Despite the fast start, neither side added to the score. Senegal’s advantage remained 1-0 through the rest of the match, making Ndiaye’s fifth-minute effort decisive.

The result gives Senegal a win in a preparation fixture rather than points in a qualifying competition. That distinction matters because the match does not alter a league table or a tournament group. Its value lies in the performance of the players involved, the work carried out during the international window and the opportunity to test attacking combinations against another African national side.

For Ndiaye, the goal combined international impact with a return to a familiar stadium. The database lists him as a 26-year-old right winger who currently plays for Everton. It also records his move from Marseille to Everton for €18 million in the 2024-25 season, following his €17 million transfer from Sheffield United to Marseille in the 2023-24 campaign. His finish against Comoros came at the ground where that part of his career was played out.

Ndiaye’s wider transfer history traces his rise from Hyde United to Sheffield United’s under-21 side, then to Sheffield United’s senior team and Marseille before his move to Everton. The database places his current market value at €55 million and lists Senegal and France as his citizenships. It also records a knee injury, although no further detail on its timing, severity or effect on this match is available. The goal nevertheless marked his decisive contribution on the night.

Senegal’s 1-0 victory leaves the Lions with a clean-sheet success and gives Ndiaye the headline moment from the fixture. Mbaye’s assist and the early attacking movement supplied the difference, while Comoros were unable to find an equaliser after falling behind. With the international break moving towards its conclusion, the focus now returns to club football, and Ndiaye will leave Marseille with a goal scored in his former home and a win for Senegal.