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Probably the best Senegalese player since the start of the CAN, Pape Alioune Ndiaye thrives in a new role of sentry in the team where his intelligence and technique fluidify the game of Lions. Against Uganda in the round of 16 on Friday, the 28-year-old trained at the Diambars Institute will still be expected to be the hub of Senegal.
From our special envoy in Cairo,
PAN! His sobriquet would make him think of a serial-scorer, but Pape Alioune Ndiaye is a cleaner. A sentry in front of the defense, responsible for the cleanliness of the raises and the service after recovery. He is the main launching pad for the Lions, the player who sets the pace in quick or quick attacks and plugs gaps to protect his defense. Very technical and precise in his catch of ball, just in his passes, intelligent in his placement, he is the basic man of the system of play of Aliou Cissé since several matches. " In the philosophy of the game I wanted to put in place, it was important that we be cleaner in our ball out. With Pape, we have this player able to turn around with the ball and play forward because he has a technique that is really above the average, Judge Cisse. Now, there are big matches that come, we will still judge him on that . "
See also ► CAN 2019: Senegal facing Uganda for a quarterback spot
The first big test was against Algeria. Despite the defeat, PAN, also called Badou Ndiaye, was one of the Lions to survive while the Fennecs had particularly targeted to prevent Senegalese raises.
" He was shattered by the opponents "
Evolving as a sentinel is a new role for this midfielder of 179 cm, who has done most of his career as a midfielder or even playmaker. But as we say in Senegalese football, it seems that " Badou can do everything "(in reference to a famous Senegalese TV movie).
Saer Seck, one of the founding members of the Diambars Institute, fondly remembers his former protégé who only lived for the ball and the game. " PAN is a very endearing boy. Originally, it was an eccentric very lively and very tonic , reveals the one who is also president of the Senegalese League of professional football. But he was very small and was shattered by the opponents. To protect him, he was put on the bench. When he felt that he was not a proprietor or that he was not, he was crying bitterly, inventing illnesses, especially stomach pains, which he healed as soon as I proposed to take him home. . Or as soon as he became a titular ... "
From Norway to Turkey
Pope Alioune Ndiaye is almost born with the ball with a military father, coach of the football club of the Senegalese Armed Forces (ASFA), and future trainer at Diambars. With a teacher mother, the young Pope Alioune was pushed to get his baccalaureate before attempting the adventure of a professional career in football. It started in Norway (FK Bodø), first through Turkey (Osmanilspor), England (Stoke City), before landing again in Turkey with Galatasay, and a title of champion.
Today, after 20 caps (one goal), Pape Alioune has settled in the national team where he is the perfect complement in the middle of his classmate in Diambars, Idrissa Guèye. " Pope is more than a teammate, he's a brother. We spent our training and our childhood at Diambars. In the field, we get on well and we talk a lot. As the coach often asks me to do pressing before him, he ensures my back and that of the team. He is there for our safety and we do not need to come for the balloons because he is able to bring them to us . "
Defend, recover, and serve, all that's missing are goals to PAN to definitely honor his sobriquet ...
See also ► CAN 2019: Calendar, results and standings of the Africa Cup