Another Senegal legend calls it a day: Mendy announces international retirement

One era is slowly but surely coming to an end for the Senegal national team.

Following a controversial defeat by default to Morocco in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final and a painful 3-2 loss to Belgium that ended their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, the Lions of Teranga’s legends are calling time on their international careers one by one.

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Two months ago, Sadio Mane announced his retirement from the Senegal shirt, and two days ago, Edouard Mendy did the same, leaving a huge gap between the posts. The 34-year-old goalkeeper revealed his decision in a video he posted on his social media, followed by a simple caption: “Thank you, Senegal.”

The 34-year-old who currently captains the Saudi side Al-Ahli, made his debut for the Lions of Teranga on November 17, 2018, against Equatorial Guinea in Bata, in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Senegal won 1-0 and Mendy kept a clean sheet – one of the impressive 31 he would record in 59 appearances for the national team.

He wore the Lions of Teranga shirt at two World Cups (2022 and 2026) and four AFCONs, lifting the trophy in 2021 and playing two more finals, in 2019 and 2025.

As is widely known, despite beating Morocco 1-0 in the most recent continental final, Senegal were stripped of the title by CAF (Confederation of African Football) two months later.

The 63 minutes he played in Senegal’s 3-2 group-stage defeat to Norway at the 2026 World Cup proved to be Mendy‘s final appearance for the national team, as a ligament injury ruled him out of the remainder of the tournament, including the clashes with Iraq and Belgium.

Now, it’s time for his successors, Yehvann Diouf and Mory Diaw to step up. Mendy has played his part.