Al Seyni N'Diaye is not the type of player who goes unnoticed on the beach soccer pitch. Burly and tall at 6'3, not to mention clad in a bright yellow shirt under platinum blond hair, the Senegal goalkeeper is difficult to miss. But what truly catches the eye are his saves and interventions, and that was the case against Uruguay on Friday as Ndiaye emerged as the game's key player, despite his team-mates' attacking masterclass.



"That's nothing new – he's the key player in every match," a smiling Raoul Mendy told FIFA.com after full-time. The No9 was the other star performer for Senegal, notching a hat-trick in a game his team dominated thanks to their superior technique, physical qualities and – according to Mendy, anyway – their tactics. "With us, the tactics are simple: Al Seyni takes care of things at the back and we do our bit up front!"

"I was only doing my job," added Ndiaye. "I'm the last line of defence and it's my responsibility to make saves and stay focused throughout the game. That's just what I gave my best to do. It's always good to start with a win, especially as this was a fantastic one. It allows us to go into our next matches with a little more serenity."

Despite the eventual 6-1 scoreline, Uruguay got off to the better start in this Group D opener. The South American hopefuls took the lead from a penalty and won a second moments later, threatening to build a 2-0 lead that could have made all the difference. Instead, Ndiaye stood firm as a symbol of defiance and quality – setting an example that his fellow Lions of Teranga quickly followed. "Yes, that maybe helped us as a turning point," said Ndiaye. "It was important not to lose our way in the game."



It is interesting to hear the Senegal captain employ the word "lose". If his friend Mendy is to be believed, it might be the one word he hates the most. "His only flaw? He's a bad loser," explained the forward. "Defeats make him very irritable. I've known Al Seyni for ten years. He's my pal, my room-mate here and my team-mate at club level. He's a leader, a pillar, a boss. And he has natural charisma. It's not for nothing that he's wearing the armband."

Although he raises his voice in the dressing room, Ndiaye leads the way on the sand. The 32-year-old is now appearing in his eighth FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, having reached the quarter-finals on three occasions. He has also clinched six CAF Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations titles and just as many awards as the tournament's best keeper, most recently doubling up on 29 May this year – the same day another Senegalese No1, Edouard Mendy, became the first African custodian to win the UEFA Champions League.



"It was a great day for Senegalese sport," said Ndiaye. "I was obviously delighted for Edouard, who I consider as a brother. As a matter of fact, I was on the phone with him this morning. He wanted to wish us the best for this World Cup."



Their exploits may have received different levels of attention, but Ndiaye is far from racked by envy. "I felt no frustration at all," he vowed. "What Edouard has achieved is huge, and I only wish for good things for all the Lions. Everyone has their job. And we will have other opportunities to shine, starting with this Beach Soccer World Cup!"