Iliman Ndiaye interview: ‘You never know where football will take you… I really want to play in the Champions League’
It feels like Iliman Ndiaye is about to start an exciting new chapter in his amazing story.
Right before a very personal match against France—a country that means a lot to him—Senegal’s number 13 is ready to show the world what he can do. “Everyone’s going to be watching the World Cup,” he tells SPORTbible. “It’s a huge chance for me.”
You can hear the excitement when Ndiaye talks about what’s ahead. And who wouldn’t be excited? This summer, he’ll play on the biggest stage, with top Premier League clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal, and Manchester United keeping an eye on him.
“You never know where football will take you next,” says the 26-year-old, speaking about his future at Everton. “I want to be the best and to do that, you need to play at the highest level. I want to play in the Champions League.”
Confidence has always been a big part of Ndiaye’s story. Even when a Reading coach told his dad, Mamadou, that he’d never make it as a pro, young Iliman believed differently. Before turning 18, he faced disappointments at big clubs like Southampton, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace. But after those setbacks, Steve Holmes, a scout from Sheffield United, spotted him playing non-league football.
Throughout his journey, one thing has stayed the same: Ndiaye’s strong belief in himself.
Against all odds, he’s now set to play against France—his birth country—at MetLife Stadium in New York this Tuesday.
“Did I ever think about giving up? Never,” he says without hesitation. “Since I was young, I’ve had so much belief in my ability. I always dreamed of reaching this level.”
Now, with his usual confidence, Ndiaye believes Senegal can do something incredible this summer.
“I truly think we’re going to win the World Cup,” he says simply. “If I didn’t believe that, why come? I’m not here to be just a fan; I’m here to win. If I thought otherwise, I’d give my spot to someone else.”
Ndiaye was just two years old when Senegal beat reigning champions France at the 2002 World Cup, thanks to a goal from Papa Bouba Diop. He’s watched the highlights “so many times” on YouTube, and that moment means a lot to him and his family.
“France is a big part of my life. I was born there, my family and friends live there, and my mum is French too,” he says. “So even though I love Senegal, I’m also French. Most of our squad has French roots, so this match will mean everything. I hope they fear us.”
Like many players, Ndiaye doesn’t dwell on past successes. He’s focused on the present and knows there’s plenty more to come.
But looking back, his incredible journey is truly inspiring, reminding us all about resilience and belief. Seven years ago, he played for YouTube side Rising Ballers. Three years earlier, he’d moved to London with his dad, who has always believed in him.
“When I first landed in England, my dad took me to a Manchester United football camp. I was only 14,” he remembers. “He’s always gone above and beyond for me.”
Born in Rouen, France, Ndiaye spent time in Marseille’s youth teams before moving to Senegal at 12. There, his dad—the dance choreographer Mamadou—helped him develop his unique style, mixing football with dance moves on the beaches of Dakar.
After three years in Senegal, Iliman joined his dad in London. It was a huge change, made harder by his limited English. But his dad was there every step of the way.
“It wasn’t easy,” he admits. “When I first arrived, the only English word I knew was ‘rainbow’—something I learned long ago in France. My dad made sure I had chances, like that Manchester United camp. He even filmed my matches and posted them on YouTube. I wouldn’t be here without him.”
Starting school was tough, but football helped him fit in quickly. “On my first day, during PE, we played football,” he laughs. “After, everyone said, ‘Wow, you’re good.’ That made it easier.”
Despite his talent, it wasn’t always smooth. Clubs like Chelsea, Tottenham, and Crystal Palace turned him down. He remembers tears when Southampton let him go. Then came the moment at Reading when a coach bluntly told his dad Iliman was too small to be a pro. His dad stood up for him fiercely, and they never looked back.
Quitting was never an option. After Southampton, he joined non-league Boreham Wood but had to pass a course to join their academy. He failed the course and tried engineering instead, but his heart stayed with football.
“I left college the first day because the teacher didn’t show up,” he recalls. “I kept playing football with Boreham Wood, and that was all I cared about. School just wasn’t for me.”
Cameron Mawer, former head of Boreham Wood’s academy, says Ndiaye was the only player who was 100% sure he’d become a professional. “No backups, no ‘maybe’. He said, ‘I’m going to be a footballer. Just watch.’”
Ndiaye signed a first-team contract with Boreham Wood and soon went on trial with Sheffield United, which changed everything. Boreham Wood even got about 40 calls from clubs after his trial games, but he chose Sheffield United.
To keep fit, Ndiaye often played five-a-side at Westway Sports Centre in West London. That’s where a Rising Ballers player noticed him and pushed to get him on their team.
His teammate, Mergim Qarri, remembers playing against Ndiaye as a tough opponent. “He was so good, I begged the Rising Ballers to take him. I had to convince them to make space. Iliman’s humble but the best I’ve played with.”
Ndiaye loved his time at Rising Ballers: “I just had fun and played with freedom. I knew everything was filmed for YouTube, so I wanted to show my best. It kept me sharp for Sheffield United.”
After strong spells at Sheffield United and Marseille, Ndiaye joined Everton in 2024, quickly becoming their “magic man.”
Looking back at the 2025-26 season, he feels mixed. “It went okay. The start was good, but later not so much.” When asked if fatigue played a role after a 45-game season, he disagrees. “I don’t think it’s fatigue. The whole team hasn’t been at their best. It’s hard to blame individuals.”
He adds, “I want to play more—European games, Champions League. That’s where I want to be.”
His story is amazing—a player once told he couldn’t make it, who scored on his Rising Ballers debut in 2019, now chasing his biggest dream.
“I’m proud of how far I’ve come,” he says. “But I’m not stopping here. Since I was young, I’ve wanted to be the best player in the world and win trophies for my club and country. That’s why I play—to make everyone proud and have no regrets.”