* Club domestic league appearances and goalsas of 22 August 2025
Ousmane Ndong (born 20 September 1999) is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Russian club Akhmat Grozny.[2] Besides Senegal, he has played in Uruguay, Argentina, Ecuador, Iran and Russia.[3][4]
Ndong started out as a central midfielder, spending his early youth years in Senegal with Angelo Africa, Teungueth FC and Cayor Foot FC.[5][6] In 2018, Ndong moved to Argentina to join Primera División team Lanús.[6][7][8] He played in their academy for two years, latterly as captain, whilst transforming into a centre-back.[6] He made the breakthrough into Luis Zubeldía's first-team in mid-2020.[6][9] He scored in a friendly against Arsenal de Sarandí on 29 September, before making his senior debut in the Copa de la Liga Profesional against Newell's Old Boys on 14 November; becoming the first Senegalese player to play in the Argentine top-flight.[2][6][10] On 3 January 2022 it was confirmed, that Ndong's contract with Lanús had been terminated.[11]
Born in Dakar, Ndong was born with two brothers and one sister.[7] His father is a retired policeman, while his mother (d. 2019) was a doctor.[7][13] He was childhood friends with Sadio Mané.[6] In 2019, in Argentina, Ndong was robbed at gunpoint.[6] He also suffered racist abuse while in the South American country.[6][7] It took him nine months to learn Spanish, having only previously spoken French and partial English.[14] Ndong states his love of Argentina came from watching Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team; revealing he cried when the nation was eliminated from the Copa América Centenario.[6]
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