Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye was part of the Senegal side that drew 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland on Friday night.
After a fine season, Everton’s top scorer is now on international duty with Senegal and appears to have carried his good form from the end of the Premier League season.
Iliman Ndiaye is one of several Everton players involved in national games in June, with the 25-year-old coming up against teammate Jake O’Brien in the Friendly in Dublin.
Under David Moyes, Ndiaye has come a long way after completing a move to the Toffees in 2024 and is seemingly enjoying his football much more than he was under Sean Dyche.
Ndiaye scored in Everton’s last game at Goodison Park, etching himself into the history books in the process and ensuring fans will remember his name for years to come.
After playing the full 90 minutes against Ireland, Senegal’s media have shared exactly why they were blown away by Ndiaye’s performance.
Photo by Ryan Pierse - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Photo by Ryan Pierse – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Jamie Carragher was impressed with Ndiaye in his first season with Everton, and the Senegal media think the exact same thing after he started the move which led to the Lions equalising in the latter stages of the game.
Although he did not register a goal contribution, Senegalese outlet Wiwsport made sure to give Ndiaye his flowers.
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They gave him a rating of 7/10 and said: “Less prominent in the first half, the Everton striker literally sounded the Lions’ revolt. Very quickly, he tried to create imbalance, even if his rhythm was not followed, especially at the start of the second half.
“But as the minutes passed, at the restart, the mayonnaise cooled and he managed to find himself with his partners. On Krépin Diatta’s header on the crossbar, it was he who shifted Jakobs for the cross. With his dribbling and his ability to turn quickly, he ideally served Lamine Camara who forced Kelleher to spread out.
“His greatest achievement of the evening will remain this magnificent sequence and this cross to Chérif Ndiaye, whose shot led to Ismaila Sarr’s goal. A delight!”
Elsewhere, the Irish Mirror rated Ndiaye 6/10.
Iliman Ndiaye’s game vs Ireland by numbers
With a transfer fee of £18m, Ndiaye looks like he will be considered a bargain in years to come, especially if he can better the nine Premier League goals he scored in the 2024/25 campaign.
Having played with him at Sheffield United, Phil Jagielka has noticed Ndiaye’s improvements at Everton, with his creativity a key factor in his game in comparison to when he was younger.
Statistics vs Ireland Iliman Ndiaye
Minutes 90
Passes completed 31/34 (91%)
Successful dribbles 5 (100%)
Duels won 12/16 (75%)
Times fouled 2
Stats from FotMob
Moyes wants to sign a striker at Everton, which can only mean good things for Ndiaye who will likely play off them next season. He showed what he could do playing with the likes of Beto, but could be fully unleashed with a top-quality striker at the Hill Dickinson Stadium next season.
The spotlight will be on Ndiaye again next week when Senegal face England at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground. He will likely come up against teammate Jordan Pickford in the game, and will be very eager to get one up on him.