Iliman Ndiaye needed only five minutes to make the Vélodrome feel familiar again. Back in Marseille more than two years after leaving Olympique de Marseille, the Senegal winger struck the only goal in a controlled 1-0 friendly victory over Comoros, whose supporters gave the afternoon a distinctly home-side atmosphere.
Key takeaways
- Ndiaye turned in Ibrahim Mbaye’s cross in the fifth minute to settle the match.
- Senegal, under Patrick Vieira, made several changes after taking four points from their latest Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
- Comoros defended with commitment and created moments, but again failed to find a goal.
- Kalidou Koulibaly impressed on his return to central defence, while Hull City’s Nobel Mendy covered at left-back.
- Bayern Munich prospect Bara Sapoko Ndiaye, 18, was given an opportunity in midfield.
Ndiaye’s early return to the scoresheet
Ndiaye scored just once at the Vélodrome during his 2023-24 spell with Marseille, but he was far more clinical on Sunday. Pape Matar Sarr released Mbaye on the left, and Mbaye’s unselfish delivery was met by Ndiaye for the decisive finish.
Senegal controlled possession thereafter without needing to raise the tempo significantly. Mbaye was one of the brighter attacking figures, driving through the Comorian back line before slipping Idrissa Gana Gueye through shortly before half-time. The Senegal captain, however, was denied by the goalkeeper in first-half stoppage time.
Patrick Vieira’s side had arrived in Marseille after a 1-1 draw in Mozambique and a 1-0 win in Ethiopia in qualifying for the next Africa Cup of Nations. The friendly allowed the Senegal coach to continue assessing the depth of his squad.
Comoros show spirit but lack a finishing touch
Comoros had a stronger spell after the break and briefly unsettled Senegal. Créteil attacking midfielder Aymeric Ahmed found space in the box in the 56th minute, but took too long to shoot and the opening disappeared.
The Coelacanths were resilient without the ball and offered a threat when their forwards were sent in behind. Yet their familiar shortcomings in the final third remained evident: the team had also failed to score during the most recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Senegal did not add to their lead despite remaining composed. Rassoul Ndiaye had a promising chance around the 70-minute mark but could not produce the finish required.
Vieira nevertheless had encouraging individual returns. Veteran defender Koulibaly looked assured in the centre of defence, while Mendy’s useful display on the left gave regular starter El Hadji Malick Diouf a rest. In midfield, teenager Bara Sapoko Ndiaye was handed a first look, while Issa Soumaré endured a difficult outing as the central striker, a role that does not appear to suit him naturally.
