Mendy Retires From International Football After Eight Years With Senegal

Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has brought the curtain down on his international career, confirming his retirement from the Senegal national team in a heartfelt post shared across his social media platforms on Sunday.

The announcement closes out an eight-year spell with the Lions of Teranga during which the 34-year-old made 59 appearances for his country.

Mendy expressed his gratitude to Senegal in Wolof, the nation’s most widely spoken language, pairing the message with a compilation video celebrating the highlights of his time between the posts for the national side.

Although born in France, Mendy built his football identity around Senegal, earning his first cap in 2018 under the guidance of then-coach Aliou Cisse.

His club career has taken him through spells at Marseille, Reims, and Rennes, before a high-profile move to Chelsea, and he currently plies his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli.

Among the crowning moments of his international career was Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 2021, when they got the better of Egypt in a dramatic penalty shootout.

He also featured for the Lions in last year’s tournament, which Senegal appeared to have won 1-0 on the pitch, only for the trophy to later be handed to host nation Morocco following a ruling by the Confederation of African Football.

That controversial decision isn’t the final word just yet, however, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport is set to hear Senegal’s formal appeal against the outcome on October 8, leaving the door open for the result to be revisited.