Edouard Mendy announces Senegal retirement after 59 caps

Edouard Mendy has announced his retirement from international football, bringing his Senegal career to an end just eight days before the national team’s return to action on 21 September.

The 34-year-old Al-Ahli goalkeeper confirmed the decision on social media with a video documenting his time in Senegal’s green, yellow and red shirt. It featured his first appearance for the Lions of Teranga, their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and the celebrations that followed their return home.

According to Taggat, Mendy informed new Senegal manager Patrick Vieira of his decision before making it public. Vieira is expected to name his first squad shortly.

Mendy will therefore miss Senegal’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Mozambique and Ethiopia on 25 and 29 September respectively, as well as the friendly against Comoros in Marseille on 4 October.

He was first called up in September 2018 and made his debut under Aliou Cisse on 17 November that year, starting the 1-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea in qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Initially competing with Alfred Gomis after arriving in the national set-up, Mendy established himself as Senegal’s first-choice goalkeeper in June 2021. His performances for Chelsea had helped him win the Champions League only weeks earlier.

He retained the starting position, apart from periods when he was injured or rested, including after Pape Thiaw took charge of the team. Mendy was involved in the controversial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in January.

At the request of the former Senegal manager, Mendy and his team-mates left the pitch at Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat in protest at a penalty awarded to Morocco in stoppage time. After a 15-minute interruption marked by disorder, they returned at the initiative of Sadio Mane.

Mendy then saved Brahim Diaz’s Panenka penalty. Reports subsequently suggested there had been an agreement between the goalkeeper and the Morocco player, but Mendy firmly denied the allegation.

Senegal won the match after extra time, but were stripped of the title two months later after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) accepted Morocco’s appeal. Mendy still presented the trophy to supporters during Senegal’s June friendlies, intensifying the dispute while the case awaits a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

His final appearance for Senegal came in a 3-2 defeat by Norway on 23 June at the 2026 World Cup. He went off injured after an hour and did not play again in the tournament.

A knee injury meant he watched from the bench as Senegal beat Iraq 5-0 on 26 June to reach the last 16, before losing 3-2 after extra time to Belgium on 1 July.

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) paid tribute to Mendy, who won 59 caps for his country.