Goalkeeper Edouard Osoque Mendy succeeded in bringing his country Senegal, to become champions of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, after defeating Egypt on penalties in the final which took place at Paul Biya Stadium, Olembe Cameroon. He managed to thwart Egypt’s fourth executioner Mohamad Lasheen in the penalty shootout, giving Senegal a 3-2 lead.
This victory was later confirmed by another Senegalese player who is now playing at Liverpool, Sadio Mane who became Senegal’s fifth executor, he easily beat Egypt goalkeeper Abou Gabal, 4-2. And crowned Senegal as the “King” of Africa for the first time in history.
Senegal’s success in winning the 2021 African Cup of Nations, complements the impressive achievements of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who is now playing for the top Premier League club, Chelsea FC. Together with Thomas Tuchel’s club, Mendy won the 2020/2021 Champions League title, then still with Chelsea he managed to lead his club to win the UEFA Super Cup.
Then Mendy won the title of UEFA’s Best Goalkeeper for the 2020/2021 season. Last but not least, before competing in the Africa Cup of Nations, Mendy was awarded the World Football Federation (FIFA) Best Goalkeeper in 2021. Mendy beat two other candidates, namely the Italian goalkeeper who plays at PSG, Gianluigi Donnaruma and the German goalkeeper of Bayern Munich, Manuel Neuer.
Previously in the award for the best footballer in the world, the 2021 Ballon d’Or, Mendy was only second behind Donnaruma who won the Lev Yashin Award Trophy. Perhaps Mendy’s extraordinary achievements in the past year were unexpected. The reason is that long before joining Chelsea, as reported by a number of international media, after completing his first professional contract with third tier French League club AS Cherbourg at the age of 22, Mendy had been unemployed for one season, not a single club was interested in him.
As a result, he also had time to despair and had time to think about ending his career in the world of football that he had been fighting for since the age of 13, when a small Mendy joined the football Academy of Le Havre France. Fortunately, the decision was not continued, after his friend brought Mendy together with the goalkeeping coach of another French club, Olympique Marseille, Dominique Bernatowich.
After undergoing tests, the club’s goalkeeping coach, who was once owned by the owner of the Adidas business empire, Bernard Tapie, was interested and was eventually offered a year-long contract to play in Marseille’s B team. Although playing in the B team, Mendy showed that he did have great talent, his good performances made the French second tier club, Stade de Reims interested. At Reims, Mendy’s performances were even better, he recorded 19 clean sheets and sent Reims up to the French Ligue One caste.
Mendy’s slick appearance made him glance at another French club, Stade de Rennes in 2019, officially signed Mendy. At Rennes again, Mendy showed off his fangs, through his cool appearance he managed to bring Rennes to qualify for the 2020/2021 Champions League. Mendy’s achievements made the radar of big English club Chelsea track him, Petr Cech, former legendary Chelsea goalkeeper who is now a goalkeeper recruitment consultant, recommended Mendy to Chelsea management.
Moreover, at that time Chelsea’s main goalkeeper Kepa Arizabalaga was in decline. Mendy finally joined Chelsea at the start of the 2020/2021 season. However, Mendy’s arrival was underestimated by Chelsea fans, but Mendy paid for this negative view with achievements. He proved himself capable of being a formidable wall in front of Chelsea’s goal. Throughout the 2020/2021 season, Mendy played 45 matches in all competitions. From those 45 matches, Mendy managed to keep his goal clean, aka a clean sheet for 25 matches.
As a result, achievement after achievement was achieved by Chelsea in that season. And it will be a blessing for Mendy because his Curriculum Vitae will be longer with world-class achievements. Which shows that Edouard Mendy is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
ASL
