We never abandoned AFCON 2025 final – Senegal Keeper Édouard Mendy amid title row

Senegal national team goalkeeper Édouard Mendy has stepped forward to set the record straight over lingering claims surrounding the dramatic Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, insisting that reports suggesting Senegal abandoned the pitch are “incorrect and misleading.”

The experienced shot-stopper, a key figure for the Senegal national football team, firmly rejected the narrative that all Senegalese players had left the field during the decisive moment of the final. According to Mendy, the situation has been widely misunderstood and misrepresented in sections of the media and public discourse.

Speaking candidly, Mendy stressed that the match was temporarily halted but never officially abandoned by his team. He pointed to the referee’s official match report as clear evidence that play was paused rather than terminated, and that the game subsequently resumed before reaching its conclusion.

“People say we had all left the pitch during the Africa Cup of Nations final, but that’s not true. There were still players on the pitch,” Mendy explained. “It’s very important to mention that. That’s why the referee didn’t blow the final whistle. He actually mentioned it in his report.”

The goalkeeper was adamant that the official documentation of the match supports his version of events, reinforcing that the disruption was brief and controlled rather than a full abandonment. “The referee says we didn’t abandon the match. The match stopped for just a moment. But it resumed and continued,” he added.

Mendy’s comments aim to bring clarity to a moment that has been repeatedly referenced in discussions about the final, which took place in Rabat and remains one of the most talked-about fixtures in recent AFCON history. The confusion surrounding the incident has fueled debate, with some suggesting disciplinary or reputational consequences for Senegal — claims Mendy now strongly disputes.

By referencing the referee’s report, the goalkeeper is seeking to ground the narrative in official match evidence rather than speculation. His intervention also underscores the importance of accurate reporting in high-stakes international fixtures, where emotions and interpretations can often distort what actually occurred on the pitch.

For Senegal, a nation proud of its continental success and footballing identity, Mendy’s clarification helps reinforce the integrity of the team’s conduct during one of the most intense matches in their recent history.