Senegal: "It was the perfect time for me," Édouard Mendy talks about his retirement.

Édouard Mendy recently announced the end of his international career. The former Chelsea goalkeeper shared the reasons for his decision, his initial conversations with Patrick Vieira, and his career with the national team in an interview with the newspaper L’Equipe.

Édouard Mendy earned 59 caps with the Senegal national team, participated in 2 World Cups, and played in 3 Africa Cup of Nations finals. As the first day of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers approaches, the Al Ahli goalkeeper (Saudi Pro League) believes he has achieved all his goals and it is time to retire from the national team. For him, “it was the right time to stop” because, as he emphasizes, he feels a “sense of duty fulfilled.”

“My reflection began after the AFCON victory in Morocco, and it evolved until the World Cup. It was the perfect moment for me to step back after representing my country in all possible competitions. I played in two World Cups, and we can say two and a half AFCONs, because unfortunately, I got injured in the first one. I was fortunate to be crowned twice while participating three times. I had this feeling of having accomplished my mission, of having contributed to passing on my experience to the new generation to prepare them for future challenges.”

A key member of the Senegal national team alongside Sadio Mané, Idrissa Gana Gueye, and Kalidou Koulibaly, Édouard Mendy assures that he spoke with the new Lions coach before making his decision. He confirms that he had discussions with Patrick Vieira about the new project surrounding the team. It was essential to allow the new staff to establish a team with players likely to be present in the long term. “Patrick contacted me and presented his project, his vision, and the importance I would have in it. It really touched me, and I understood the role he wanted to assign to me. It’s Patrick Vieira, a football legend. I shared my vision and my decision with him. He tried to convince me. I asked for time to reflect. I didn’t want to start a new cycle with this group knowing there was a strong chance I wouldn’t be there until the end. I preferred that the new group settle in quickly, find its bearings, and that there wouldn’t be any interference related to my decision to stop or not with the national team.”