Mendy Retires from Senegal Duty, Calls Afcon Triumph His Greatest
The Guardian
The short version
- Édouard Mendy has retired from Senegal's national team.
- Mendy says winning Afcon felt 10 times better than winning the Champions League with Chelsea.
- The Afcon final against Morocco in Rabat featured a stoppage-time penalty after a 17-minute delay.
- Mendy was booked after he and most teammates went to the dressing room in protest at the referee's decision.
The former Chelsea goalkeeper says winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal meant more to him than his Champions League title.
Édouard Mendy has announced his retirement from international football, closing the chapter on a Senegal career he ranks above his club achievements in England. The goalkeeper, who previously played for Chelsea, said winning the Africa Cup of Nations felt "10 times better" than lifting the Champions League.
Reflecting on the tournament, Mendy recalled the pressure of the final against Morocco at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat. With stoppage time running down, he prepared to face a penalty awarded to the hosts after El Hadji Malick Diouf was penalized following a Morocco corner.
The award sparked controversy, and Mendy, along with most of his teammates, left the pitch for the dressing room in protest. The disruption lasted 17 minutes before play resumed, and Mendy was booked amid the fallout. He described needing to stay patient and keep a cool head while, in his words, "everywhere else there was fire."
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Written by the Matchday Live desk from reporting by The Guardian.
Read the original report at The Guardian ↗