04.02.2026 17:53
Semiramis Ndao, the wife of Konyaspor football player Alassane Ndao, who was arrested along with 20 suspects as part of the investigation into betting and match-fixing conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, stated that their daughter entering her first birthday without her father has caused great sadness in the family, saying, "Alassane is very sad but believes he will be back as soon as possible. We want this process to end as soon as possible."
The Konyaspor player Alassane Ndao, who was detained as part of the investigation into betting and match-fixing conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, was arrested by the court on December 9, 2025. While a total of 20 people were sent to prison as part of the investigation, Ndao's wife, Semiramis Ndao, shared the difficult process they are going through and their situation as a family with İhlas News Agency.
Stating that they have been apart from her husband for about 2 months, Semiramis Ndao conveyed that the absence of her father on their daughter's first birthday has caused deep sadness in the family, saying, "We have really struggled during this process. Today is my daughter's first birthday, and her father is not by her side. We are experiencing the bitterness of this. We want him to come to us as soon as possible," she expressed.
"HE IS BEING HELD UNDER POOR CONDITIONS"
Ndao mentioned that her husband was transferred to a different prison because he is not a Turkish citizen, saying, "While other football players were taken to Silivri, Alassane was taken to Maltepe Prison. He is staying there under poor conditions with people who have received sentences of 10 years, 30 years. We also have concerns about his safety," she stated.
Emphasizing that her husband is an athlete, Semiramis Ndao also highlighted that the prison conditions are not suitable for an athlete's life, saying, "Sleep patterns, meal schedules, and training programs are very important for an athlete. He is trying to train in some way with his own means, but how effective can that be, that's debatable. He is staying in a dormitory with 60 people, and they all smoke. As someone who has never smoked in his life, he is very disturbed by this," she said.
"I VISIT HIM EVERY WEEK"
Ndao added that the process they are going through is very exhausting both physically and psychologically, saying, "We were in Konya, and we decided to return to Antalya. He had already received a 12-month sentence in Konya, and we had no business there. I am from Antalya, and my husband was taken during the operation organized when I came here. For two days, I was in shock. I came to Antalya and visit Maltepe Prison every week. I have to leave my daughter here. Going back and forth in a day is extremely tiring," she explained.
"HE STILL THINKS ABOUT HIS CAREER"
Despite her husband being in prison, Semiramis Ndao stated that he continues to think about his football career, saying:
"He tells me, 'I'm so bored, I need to get out as soon as possible, I need to train.' Even there, he is thinking about his career. He is following the matches."
Stating that Ndao's family lives in Senegal and is following the process with concern, his wife said, "His family is in Senegal, and they are eagerly watching the legal process here. We are sending news with our lawyer and manager, and a campaign has been launched there for Alassane's release. We want this process to end as soon as possible so that we can see our future and plan our lives," she evaluated.
Recalling that the absence of her father on their daughter's first birthday has deeply hurt them, Semiramis Ndao said, "It is very sad that her father is not with us during a time when my daughter should be spending time with him. He could not be there for her first birthday. Alassane is very sad, but he believes he will come back as soon as possible," she said.