Barriers, Belief and Belonging: The Mouhamed Niang Story

Mouhamed Niang, better known in Scottish football as Sena, has built a reputation as one of the most quietly resilient figures in the lower leagues. Born in Dakar, Senegal, in 1999 and raised between Manchester and Glasgow, Niang’s story is as much about belonging as it is about football. Over the years he has worn the colours of Rangers at youth level, Partick Thistle, Hartlepool United, Cove Rangers, and now Clyde FC — but the real victories have come off the pitch, in his fight for opportunity and recognition in a system that too often overlooks players like him.

When Sena moved from the streets of Dakar to Manchester aged five, then on to Glasgow, he found more than a new home. He found a love of football — and years of hurdles that would shape him into the player and man he would become.

“I was born in Dakar in 1999... I was a young five-year-old at first when I got to the UK. I was in Manchester from 2004 to 2007 then moved to Glasgow,” he recalls. “Scotland was good from the get-go, there weren’t many Black people back then, but they were good people, you know, everyone was helpful and it definitely made me the man that I am today.”

The move, motivated by his father’s hope for a better life abroad and family in Manchester, offered promise but no guarantees.

“It’s made me realise that there’s people that are going through way worse than you, like you never see people walking barefoot here,” he says, reflecting on the contrast between Senegal and the UK. That perspective would later help him endure one of the toughest tests of his young life, far more complicated than settling into a new culture.

As a near teenager, Niang’s ability caught the attention of Rangers F.C, this was after spending a few years back in Senegal to learn the language and culture. “I trialled with Rangers for two weeks and they wanted to sign me, but I wasn't able to play,” he says. “I got back from Senegal when I was 11 and I didn’t find out till I was 15 what was stopping me from playing.”

The problem wasn’t football — it was paperwork. During his time back in Senegal, a visa overstay had left Niang without the right documentation to play or work in the UK. “When I came back, I just went through hell. I couldn’t do a lot of things. I had to wait until the Home Office got back to me with the permit. It absolutely jeopardised the start of my career.”

For four crucial years, while his peers were developing in academies, Sena was stuck in limbo — considered at that point good enough for the country’s biggest club, but unable to step on the pitch. “Knowing that you’re good enough for a team like Rangers to be interested in you and not signing for them because of things out with your control. It’s really, really, tough.”

He didn’t give up. Playing with Pollok FC in the juniors kept him connected to the game. Then came help from a mentor.

“There was a guy called Bill Resite at Pollock, he’s a big figure in my life. He helped with a lot of things. Writing to the Home Office, everything he could.” Bill’s persistence paid off. In 2018, Niang signed for Partick Thistle, officially beginning his professional career.

Since then, he has been the definition of determination. At Thistle, he helped win Scottish League One in 2020–21, before moving to Hartlepool United in England and later returning north to join Cove Rangers and now Clyde. Each move marked another small triumph over the obstacles that once blocked his way.

“If it wasn’t because of those tough times, I wouldn’t be who I am today,” he says. “One thing is I’ve always remained the same, and because of that I've always felt love and respect regardless.”

But Niang’s journey speaks to a broader issue within Scottish football: the lack of support for immigrant, ethnic minority, and refugee players trying to navigate a system not built for them. Yes, Sena showed an indestructible resolve fighting these injustices, but that isn’t everyone. Not every child in a similar position has the mentality or the environment to support them.

“The governing bodies could have helped me more but that wasn’t the case at the time,” he admits. His experience shows how even the most talented young players can be left behind when bureaucracy and bias collide.

“For a lot of players, it’s very important they get support,” he says. “I’ve got a lot of things in mind to help the next generation stand tall.”

He wants to create pathways for kids who, like him, arrive in Scotland full of talent but unsure where to turn. Something he already has a part in with Scoutable United – a team created to give released academy and ethnic minority players a chance.

His message to them is simple but powerful: “Every kid should be given a fair chance regardless of colour, religion, or the country they’re from. It would have been easy for me to just turn my back and stop, but you will get over it, you just need to be strong mentally and keep going.”

Now 26, Niang has carved out a place for himself in the Scottish game. But his story remains a reminder — to the clubs, the associations, and the government — that talent alone isn’t enough without opportunity.

Because when the ball drops and the whistle blows, it should be talent that decides who gets to play, not paperwork.

Mouhamed “Sena” Niang signing for Partick Thistle - 2018