Édouard Mendy, the former Chelsea goalkeeper, has announced his retirement from international football at age 34 after a distinguished career with Senegal. He reflected on winning the Africa Cup of Nations with his country, describing a dramatic penalty save in the final against Morocco and emphasising the achievement's profound personal significance, stating it was "10 times better" than his 2021 Champions League triumph with Chelsea.

The AFCON final victory has since become subject to legal dispute; whilst Mendy's Senegal side won on the pitch and initially received the trophy, the Confederation of African Football awarded a 3-0 forfeit victory to Morocco in March after Senegal's players briefly left the pitch in protest over refereeing decisions. A preliminary appeal hearing is scheduled for the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland next month. Mendy, who made 59 international appearances, declined an opportunity to continue playing under newly appointed manager Patrick Vieira, believing it was the right moment to retire. He has also won successive Asian Champions League titles with Al-Ahli and expressed optimism about Senegal's emerging generation, including Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara and Aston Villa's Ibrahim Mbaye, continuing the nation's football success.