one name stands out among the 27 players selected by Aliou Cissé for the Senegal national team – Abdoulaye Niakhaté Ndiaye. The young talent is on the cusp of a significant moment as he aims to earn his very first cap with the Lions, and the opportunity may arise in the upcoming friendly match against Niger on Monday, January 8.
Having received his first call-up in September 2023, Abdoulaye Niakhaté Ndiaye has been part of the squad for key encounters.
However, he has yet to taste action on the field. In the friendly match against Algeria on September 12 at the Abdoulaye Wade stadium in Diamniadio, the Troyes player, currently competing in Ligue 2, did not feature during the Lions’ narrow defeat (1-0) against the Fennecs.
Cissé, recognizing Niakhaté Ndiaye’s potential, summoned him again for the friendly against the Indomitable Lions on October 16, 2023, in Lens, France.
Despite being part of the victorious squad against Cameroon (1-0), the 21-year-old defender did not make an appearance.
He also found a place among the players selected for the first two days of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, facing South Sudan (4-0) and Togo (0-0).
However, Niakhaté Ndiaye remained on the sidelines during these matches.
As Senegal gears up for the AFCON from January 13 to February 11, Niakhaté Ndiaye stands as the sole member among the 27 Lions who might embark on the tournament without having showcased his skills in the Senegal jersey.
With just one friendly match remaining before the continental competition kicks off, the former Bastia player is on the brink of a monumental opportunity to make his mark and contribute to Senegal’s campaign in the prestigious AFCON 2023 hosted in Ivory Coast.
