2024-01-01 10:36:24
After sometimes frustrating first months in the jersey of Olympique de Marseille, Iliman Ndiaye is preparing to defend the colors of Senegal during the African Cup of Nations (January 13-February 11). Before starting the defense of the Lions of Téranga title, the Marseille striker spoke about his ambitions, his pride in participating in this tournament and what this parenthesis can bring him for the rest of his season with the ‘OM.
What does the African Cup of Nations mean to you? Was it a dream to participate?
It was a dream for me. All these years I’ve watched it… I’ve always hoped to be in it one day. For me, it’s a big step (step) in my career. At the moment, the CAN is in January, and I think that will help me for the rest of the season with Marseille.
What memories do you have of the CAN, during your childhood in Dakar for example? What memorable moment do you remember?
I think the best memory is when Senegal won the CAN (2021). It is the most beautiful memory of all the Senegalese people.
How did you experience the final?
Like a supporter (smile). I was at home with one of my friends to watch the match. Right after, I did a live performance and people saw me dancing! I was so happy. It’s as if I had been on the ground with them. So there you go, I hope to participate.
From this coronation, you say to yourself ‘Next time, do I have to be there?’ Does it put even more stars in your eyes?
It was exactly that! I was with my friend, we were talking and I said to him ‘Next time it’s with me!’ And he said to me ‘Yeah, we’ll get there!’ So I’m super happy.
Do you feel that this has made football grow in Senegal, the selection? That you are no longer the same country after this coronation?
I think that we are no longer the same country and that people no longer look at us in the same way. We see us as the champions of Africa, the strongest country on the continent. This is how people look at us. Now, when we play against other countries, it will be more difficult matches because they will push themselves even harder.
That’s more pressure, right?
Surely, yes, it’s more pressure. But I know a lot of players in the national team and they have no pressure. They play as they know how to play, as a team. Individually, they do what they have known how to do for years.
How does it feel to be on the pitch and wear the same jersey as Sadio Mané or Kalidou Koulibaly? Players who have a lot of experience, who have won a lot of titles… How did you get into this Senegalese group?
Work pays. I worked to get there. Watching them play on TV every day, winning titles… For me, playing with them now is a source of immense pride. Now that I’m here, I plan to stay there.
There was already a first step with the World Cup a year ago, where you exploded a bit in the eyes of football fans who didn’t follow the Championship. Did it help you settle into the selection?
I think it helped me settle in, yes. It gives me more confidence when I go on selection with Senegal. Now they know me well so they help me, and I try to help them too. The World Cup helped me a lot.
When we speak with players who play for the national team, they tell us that there is nothing stronger than representing your country. You confirm?
Yes, that’s true, there is nothing stronger than that. It’s a dream that you’ve had since you were little and making it come true is something exceptional. It’s beautiful (smile).
We are not going to ask you what Senegal’s objective is at the CAN, because the objective is to win. But how do you win again? Because there, you are eagerly awaited…
I think we must keep the same principles. Every match we are going to play is a final. We are going to play the CAN to win it. We all have the same goal. We will try to do the same job.
It’s a hell of a tournament coming up. There is the ultra-favorite Ivory Coast, Morocco, Algeria… There are talented players from everywhere. In Senegal, there is Koulibaly who left for Saudi Arabia while he was playing in Naples, the same for Sadio Mané… Is Senegal still performing as well?
Where the players play has nothing to do with what they will do when they come to the selection. We keep the same objectives and even the players who go to Saudi Arabia or elsewhere, they are still performing as before. Nothing changes when they come up for selection.
How do you see your group (Cameroon, Gambia, Guinea) and the clash against Cameroon?
I don’t think the shock is only against Cameroon, all the matches are big shocks. We played Cameroon not long ago, it was a difficult match, which we managed to win. These are going to be big matches and we are going to play them to win them.
How strong is Senegal? What stands out about this team, you who are inside?
We are a family, we do everything together. As soon as a new player arrives, it feels like he’s been there for a long time. Experienced players come and put you well in the group. This is what makes us strong, being a family, doing everything together whether on or off the field.
Within this family, there is a small family here at OM (Ismaila Sarr and Pape Gueye, editor’s note). How is it going in the Senegalese connection?
(Laughs) It’s going very well! Off the field, we have fun. We do a lot of things together, we go to eat together. As you said, it’s a small family here, we take a small part of the selection and we came here to Marseille.
You will be away from your club for, we hope, a month and a half (if you reach the final, editor’s note). How do we deal with this feeling when we are a player?
I can’t tell you because I haven’t experienced this yet. For the World Cup, all football stopped. When I’m at the CAN, I know that I’ll be focused on my matches but I will still have OM in the back of my mind. I will watch the matches, if they are not at the same time.
At OM, we sometimes question your positioning in attack. We know that you like to be in the axis, where you have benchmarks. Sometimes you play on the side. With Senegal, what is your favorite position? How are you used?
In selection, it’s the same, they use me on one side or in the center. It depends on the game systems. Afterwards, it’s true that I always liked playing in the middle. But I’m ready to do what’s asked of me.
Basically, it’s being on the field and playing?
That’s what it means to be on the field but… in front! (laughs)
We know that this arrival in Marseille was close to your heart, that you surely put a little pressure on yourself in relation to the wait. Can this little break with Senegal do you any good?
I really think it can do some good. Every time I come back from selection, I feel a little more comfortable when I play. So yes, I think it will do good.
Were you able to discuss with former players the importance of the CAN?
No, we haven’t talked yet, but I know that when we go there, they’ll tell us what it’s like. They have already told us a little about what they experienced in the last CANs. All I know is it’s going to be hard!
Last question about the Senegalese community in Marseille. When you walk around town do people say to you ‘Iliman, we have to win the CAN!’?
Yes! (laughs) People tell me that all the time. Every time a Senegalese sees me, he tells me!
Comments collected by Florent Germain
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