Iliman Ndiaye hopes Everton can bounce back with a win against West Ham United to make up for their recent loss to Southampton.
The Toffees’ five-game unbeaten streak came to an end with a 1-0 loss at St. Mary’s Stadium, where Adam Armstrong netted the decisive goal just five minutes from the final whistle.
Sean Dyche’s men would be hoping to return to winning ways when they welcome the Hammers to Goodison Park on Saturday evening and the Senegal international is looking to that fixture.
“We were very disappointed – for ourselves, the fans, the Club. With the quality we have and what we can do, we shouldn’t be getting nothing from the game,” Ndiaye told Everton website.
“Personally, I thought it was one of our worst games. We had chances to get goals but, overall, it was nowhere near good enough.
“We had a disappointing start to the season but we provided a reaction with a five-game unbeaten run – and now we need to show another strong reaction as we look ahead to the weekend. We will give it our all, that’s for sure.
“West Ham are a good team and it will be a tough game but we will train right, prepare right and go there to win.”
Ndiaye’s father move to England prompted him to team up with youth side of Boreham Wood, while representing his school Westminster Academy.
From there, he signed his first pro contract with Sheffield United before moving to Olympique Marseille then Everton. He shared his experience of the lower leagues with teams like Boreham Wood and Hyde United.
He added: “I didn’t think about it too much – going into non-League – because I just wanted to play.
“I was getting told that I need to play men’s football and things like that, so that’s why I went to Hyde United on loan from Sheffield United and I enjoyed it, to be honest.
“I enjoyed playing. It didn’t matter for me what level it was. I was just enjoying my football, trying to get better and playing against a different – tougher – kind of opposition and adapting to playing on tough surfaces. With the way I play, the fans took to me and that helped, too.”
Shina Oludare is a distinguished sports journalist and managing editor, renowned for his comprehensive coverage of African football. His dedication to elevating African sports on the global stage has earned him widespread respect, along with numerous accolades for his contributions. A graduate of the LaLiga Business School in Madrid, Oludare’s passion for sports and his influential work in African football journalism have established him as a leading figure in the industry.
