A few days after Senegal’s 2026 FIFA World Cup journey came to an end in the Round of 32, goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has labelled the exit as a ‘failure’ for the West African nation.
The Lions of Teranga, who were participating in their fourth World Cup, saw their journey come to an end after losing 3-2 against Belgium in the Round of 32.
The former Chelsea goalkeeper was involved in the game, having suffered a knee injury against Norway, and was replaced by Mory Diaw.
“This elimination is a failure,” Mendy wrote on his social media pages. “We had the qualities to go further. We didn’t.
“I gave everything to heal my injury and return in time to help the team until the end, but it wasn’t enough. Now, we have to have the courage to face reality.
“A competition of this level demands a deep self-examination. Not a superficial one, but an honest and demanding review of everything that has been done: what allowed us to progress, but above all, what prevented us from achieving our goal.”
Mendy continued: “The most uncomfortable truths are often the ones that lead to the most progress.
“If we want to reach the highest levels, we must be willing to ask ourselves the right questions, make the right decisions, and raise our standards.
“Senegal deserves a team and a federation capable of turning failures into lessons and lessons into victories. It is up to us to prove ourselves worthy.”
Senegal will shift their focus to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. Senegal have been drawn into Group J alongside Mozambique, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
