View: 40% Everton star must use his newfound anger to reignite season after recent struggles

Iliman Ndiaye needs his rage over the AFCON controversy to inspire an upturn in his Everton form.

The 26-year-old started the final of the 2026 tournament and was one of many Senegal players to leave the pitch in protest of a penalty call from referee Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo.

Senegal went on to win the final against Morocco when Brahim Diaz eventually missed the penalty before Pape Gueye’s strike sealed back-to-back titles for the Lions.

That result has since been overturned by CAF and awarded in Morocco’s favour, as Senegal have been deemed to have forfeited the game by departing the field of play.

It hasn’t gone down well in the wider footballing world, but with Everton looking ahead to a clash with Chelsea, Ndiaye has to be ready.

Iliman Ndiaye needs goal output to improve badly

The fury surrounding the AFCON ruling has taken over at the Hill Dickinson Stadium this week, with both Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye impacted.

Both have had their say, with Everton themselves taking to social media to show love for the duo.

That has to be put on the back burner for now as Chelsea prepare to travel to Merseyside for a Premier League clash on Saturday.

The Toffees will be keen to get back to winning ways and will hope that Ndiaye can show his worth and pick up his first career goal involvement against the Blues.

Those have been hard to come by for the attacking midfielder in recent weeks, with him contributing to just two goals since the turn of the year.

His most recent showing against Arsenal wasn’t anything to write home about, with his one dribble and zero per cent cross accuracy hardly helping to seal victory at the Emirates.

The number 10 also won just 40 per cent of his duels and committed two fouls as Everton eventually fell to a 2-0 defeat against the Gunners.

Ndiaye has since reacted to the AFCON controversy, as the crazy nature of the decision took over the footballing world.

What has Ndiaye said about AFCON overturn

In the days following the Arsenal game, the main conversation surrounding Ndiaye has solely been about the Africa Cup of Nations.

No one associated with Senegal is accepting the result, and many have spoken out to essentially say they won’t accept the verdict.

The Everton attacker has joined that bandwagon as he took to Instagram to suggest that the AFCON title was “earned, not given” to his side.

That is certainly true and provides a small glimpse into his mindset ahead of a home clash against Chelsea on the horizon.

Any frustration and rage surrounding AFCON should act as fuel for Ndiaye, with a view to stepping up his form on Merseyside.

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