Senegal vs Comoros Friendly: Ndiaye Decides at the Vélodrome

Iliman Ndiaye gave Senegal a 1-0 victory over Comoros in an international friendly at Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome on Sunday. The Everton winger scored in the fifth minute, and his early finish remained the only goal of the match. Senegal therefore started strongly and protected the advantage through the rest of the contest.

The game began with a tribute to Pape Diouf, the former president of Olympique de Marseille, before Senegal quickly took control of the scoreline. The setting added a personal element for Ndiaye, who returned to the stadium where he played for Marseille before moving to Everton. His goal came in front of a large crowd supporting the Senegalese team.

The decisive move developed down Senegal’s left side. Ibrahim Mbaye delivered a cross into the danger area, and Ndiaye attacked the ball in front of goal. He got ahead of the Comoros defence to redirect the delivery and open the scoring. The finish was completed during Senegal’s first strong spell and gave the Lions the lead after only five minutes.

Ndiaye’s goal was also the product of a clear connection between the wide areas and the centre of the attack. Mbaye supplied the ball from the left, while Ndiaye arrived at the right moment to cut across its path. The Senegal forward did not need a second opportunity. His movement turned one attacking sequence into the match’s defining moment.

The available match details record no further change to the score. Senegal finished with a 1-0 win, while Comoros were unable to produce an equaliser after conceding so early. As a friendly, the fixture served as a preparation match for both national teams, but the result still gave Senegal a positive finish to the international break.

For Ndiaye, the goal carried significance beyond its timing. The 26-year-old right winger was playing at the home ground of Marseille, the club he left for Everton in the 2024-25 season. The database records that Everton paid €18 million for the move. Ndiaye had joined Marseille from Sheffield United for €17 million in the 2023-24 season, making the Vélodrome a notable stage in his club career as well as the venue for Senegal’s win.

His wider career path has taken him from Hyde United to Sheffield United’s under-21 side, then into Sheffield United’s senior setup before the moves to Marseille and Everton. The database lists him as holding Senegalese and French citizenship and gives his current market value as €55 million. Against Comoros, however, his contribution was measured by a single early intervention that settled the score.

The result leaves Senegal with a clean 1-0 success in this preparation meeting, while Ndiaye returns to Everton having provided the match’s only goal. The sequence also underlined his role as a player able to decide a game from a wide attacking position. The next stage for him is a return to his club responsibilities, with the database identifying Everton as his current team.