Edouard Mendy
GK
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Mar 1, 1992 (34)
Right
6'4"
190 lb
Won't play against Iraq
Mendy (knee) will be unavailable for the third group-stage match versus Iraq, and he's still undergoing tests to determine the nature and extent of the issue, Senegal's national team announced.
Analysis: Mendy's participation in the 2026 World Cup could be over if Senegal fail to achieve an unlikely qualification to the round of 32, with his ligament issue forcing him to rest for several days. This means Mory Diaw could get a rare opportunity to guard Senegal's goal in a decent fixture against Iraq. Mendy finished the first stage of the tournament with eight saves and six goals allowed over 153 minutes of play.
Minor knee ligament issue confirmed
Mendy was forced off during the second half of Monday's 3-2 loss to Norway due to a knee injury, with Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly later revealed the goalkeeper suffered a minor medial ligament issue and is scheduled to undergo further testing Tuesday to determine the severity of the problem, according to Seynabou Ka of APS.
Analysis: Mendy's potential absence would be a significant blow for Senegal both on and off the pitch, with Koulibaly emphasizing his importance as a vocal leader who provides instructions to his teammates throughout matches. Mory Diaw is in line to start in goal if Mendy cannot recover in time, with Senegal needing to beat Iraq in their final group fixture to keep their World Cup hopes alive after defeats to Norway and France.
Picks up injury versus Norway
Mendy left the field with a physical issue during the 63rd minute of Monday's game against Norway.
Analysis: Mendy had already conceded three goals when he got hurt, suffering a nightmare performance against Norway's elite attackers. His status is now a major concern for Senegal, and it may eventually lead to his absence in Friday's clash with Iraq. Mory Diaw took his place Monday and should be the first option to fill in if Mendy is dealing with a significant problem.
Impressive despite conceding three
Mendy had five saves and allowed three goals in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to France.
Analysis: Mendy was put under a lot of pressure in the second half by France and made five impressive saves, and managed to keep France at bay for long periods of the match. He made great saves from Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise using his feet, but with three goals conceded, he struggled to keep three quality finishes from Mbappe and Bradley Barcola. He will aim to keep a clean sheet in the remaining two games against Iraq and Norway, having not kept a clean sheet in the last World Cup.
Expected to start in goal
Mendy has been named in Senegal's World Cup squad as the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper under coach Pape Thiaw, arriving at the tournament after a solid season with Al Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.
Analysis: Mendy recorded 14 clean sheets and conceded just 18 goals across 26 matches this season, delivering a consistently reliable and commanding performance level that underlines his continued quality at the highest level. His shot-stopping ability, commanding presence in his penalty area and distribution from the back make him one of the more complete goalkeepers at the tournament, and his Champions League experience from his time at Chelsea gives him the big-game credentials needed to perform when the stakes are at their highest. For Senegal, Mendy is the defensive foundation upon which the entire team is built, and his ability to make crucial saves and organize the unit in front of him will be a decisive factor in whether the reigning African champions can make a deep run at a World Cup on foreign soil this summer.
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