Senegal vs Comoros: Iliman Ndiaye Wins Marseille International Friendly

Senegal beat Comoros 1-0 at Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome on Sunday, with Iliman Ndiaye scoring the only goal of an international friendly. The Senegal forward settled the contest in the fifth minute, giving the Lions of Teranga an early lead that they kept until the final whistle. The result came during the closing stage of the international break and gave Senegal a narrow victory in front of a large crowd supporting the national team.

The match began with a tribute to Pape Diouf, the former president of Olympique de Marseille, before the two African sides started their contest. The homage added a Marseille connection to an occasion that already carried a strong link to the club. Ndiaye had previously represented Marseille, and he returned to the Stade Vélodrome wearing Senegal’s colours rather than the blue and white of the home side.

Senegal’s goal came from a move on the left. Ibrahim Mbaye delivered a cross into the attacking area, and Ndiaye moved in front of the Comoros defence to meet it. He cut across the ball before it reached the goal and sent it into the net in the fifth minute. The finish converted Senegal’s early pressure and gave the visitors control of the score from the opening phase of the game.

Ndiaye’s goal was also the first and last change to the scoreboard. Comoros did not concede again after the early setback, but Senegal held the advantage through the rest of the match. The 1-0 result reflected a game decided by a single attacking sequence rather than a high-scoring exchange. For Senegal, the clean sheet completed a controlled victory in a fixture designed as preparation rather than a competitive tournament match.

The setting gave the goal additional weight for Ndiaye. The 26-year-old right winger scored in what had been his former club’s stadium, the same ground where he had previously played for Marseille. His return came after his move away from the French club. The database records Marseille’s transfer of Ndiaye to Everton for €18 million in the 2024/25 period, following his €17 million move from Sheffield United to Marseille in 2023/24.

Ndiaye now plays for Everton and is listed as holding Senegalese and French citizenship. His club record also includes Sheffield United’s under-21 side and Hyde United before his rise into senior football. The database places his current market value at €55 million and identifies him as a right winger. Those details frame the Marseille goal as part of the latest stage of a career that has taken him from non-league football in England to international responsibility with Senegal.

The timing of the finish made it particularly valuable for Senegal’s preparation. An early goal allowed the team to play with a lead for almost the entire match, while the unchanged score showed that Ndiaye’s strike was enough to settle the friendly. The result also provided a clear contribution from an attacking player who was able to combine with Mbaye and finish the move himself. No further Senegal goal was required after that fifth-minute breakthrough.

The fixture formed part of a wider Marseille football weekend. The international match was played one week before an important meeting between Olympique de Marseille and ESTAC, giving the Vélodrome another football occasion during the break. Ndiaye’s appearance linked the stadium’s club history with Senegal’s national-team programme, while the tribute to Diouf connected the event to one of Marseille’s most recognisable former leaders.

For Senegal, the next stage is the return to the wider international and club calendar after the break. For Ndiaye, the match leaves a precise record: a fifth-minute goal, an assist from Ibrahim Mbaye, and a 1-0 victory over Comoros in his former stadium. The scoreline remained unchanged from the moment he put Senegal ahead, making his finish the decisive action of the night.