Ndayishimiye knew football was route from 'unimaginable poverty'

Growing up in Bujumbura, the largest city in Burundi, Youssouf Ndayishimiye always hoped football would prove to be his route out of "unimaginable poverty".

After becoming the most expensive player in his country's history when he joined Nice in 2023 for a reported €11.5m ($13m, £9.75m), the 26-year-old is certainly a world away from a childhood which included often going without food and lacking basic necessities.

"I saw how much my mother loved us - but was unable to provide for us," he told BBC Great Lakes when recalling his early years.

"I felt I had to work tirelessly so as to lift my family out of this poverty. I had a clear vision for my life."

Bujumbura, located on the north-eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, is the commercial capital of a nation which is one of the world's poorest in terms of GDP per capita, according to the World Bank.

Born in the Buyenzi area of the city, Ndayishimiye is the eldest of three siblings and has another five half-siblings. His family later moved to the "dumpsite neighbourhood" of Buterere.

His skills on a football pitch helped him stand out even if, on occasion, he had to train barefoot.

When bigger clubs came calling, he would even have to deal with bouts of jealousy from his peers.

"One day I had to borrow boots from a friend when a second division club, Les Lierres, had agreed to sign me," he said.

"I was devastated when he refused to lend me the boots [for a trial], but I didn't give up."

After a spell playing for Aigle Noir in Burundi's southern province of Makamba, Ndayishimiye got his big break in Europe in January 2020 when he joined Turkish club Yeni Malatyaspor.

Just a year later he was on the move again, sealing a switch to Istanbul Basaksehir.

The defender is now well settled on the Cote d'Azur as vice-captain of Nice.

He has two children under five, is a committed Muslim, and retains links to his homeland with his support of Burundian musicians, whom he regularly listens to at home and in his car.

The centre-back says his story should serve as an inspiration to others.

"I knew that there was no other way to help me get out of this life than through football," he said.

"You should not lose hope. Look at the homes you grew up in, look at your destitute families, then wake up early and work hard to get your families out of poverty.

"So, it is vital for the youth to keep hope, respect God and work hard. None of us were born with the success we've reached."

Ndayishimiye's message about resilience will be important over the next few months, as he could be out of action until 2026 after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in training last week.

Ndayishimiye's performances in his first full Ligue 1 campaign with Nice were strong enough to see him nominated for the Prix Marc-Vivien Foe Award, an award handed to the best African footballer in France.

Before suffering his injury, Ndayishimiye was leading from the front in the club's bid to reach the Champions League and, while wearing the captain's armband, he netted the killer third goal against Paris St-Germain last month.

That header kept his side in the hunt for a place at Europe's top table and ended PSG's hopes of becoming the first team to complete an unbeaten season in the French top flight.

While usually taking acclaim from the stands at the Allianz Riviera, Ndayishimiye is well aware that playing in Europe comes with its downsides.

"Some of my team-mates here have been racially abused," he said.

"I always tell them 'let's focus on the job that brought us here. Let's shut those jealous people up with our performances'.

"Frankly, racism is like a pandemic - undefeatable anytime soon."

Ndayishimiye is proud of being black, but feels there is little he can do to combat discrimination in the game.

"Even before us, Yaya Toure tried his best, Samuel Eto'o tried but they couldn't succeed," he said.

"I can't do anything about it. I have no power.

"If I'm abused, it won't affect me because I know why I came – just to play football."

Even if Ndayishimiye makes his bow in the Champions League next season, he is still waiting to play at a major international tournament.

He was "heartbroken" to miss out on a place in Burundi's squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nation (Afcon) as a 20-year-old, and the Swallows have not managed to qualify for the finals since.

However, he is bullish about the country's chances of returning to Afcon in the near future – and going far at the tournament.

"There might be some challenges we don't always talk about, internal hurdles that we have to overcome, but ahead are three Afcons I want to lead my team to," he said.

"I'm now confident that I'll lead the Swallows to the upcoming 2027, 2029 and 2031 tournaments - and I believe that we will lift one of them."

Meanwhile, Ndayishimiye is remembering his roots as he looks to the future.

He has ambitions to set up a football academy back in Burundi to support children from underprivileged families.

"A football career has a limited time span and I know that I have to make some savings, keeping in mind my poor background, so that I do not return to that life.

"That's advice I give my team-mates - manage your good salaries wisely so that we don't end up in regret.

"That's why, once I retire, I plan to open a school named after me."