Senegalese hero reinforces Chelsea in the World Cup after winning in Africa

The day after Senegal’s victory over Egypt in the final of the African Cup of Nations, the city of Dakar woke up to a celebration. Hundreds of fans took to the streets of the Senegalese capital to celebrate the team’s unprecedented title, which was received with a big party when it returned to the country on Monday (7).

During the celebration, the famous vuvuzelas, car horns and shouts of euphoria were heard. Amidst the sea of ​​people dressed in red, yellow and green clothes, colors of the country’s flag, many also displayed banners with the faces of national idols. The face of goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, who shone in the penalty shootout, was one of the most outstanding.

At the age of 39, the athlete has become a symbol of success and hope for his countrymen. This condition was reinforced with the title by the national team, but also built with the shirt of Chelsea, the team for which they won the 2020/21 Champions League – the campaign accredited the English team to dispute the Club World Cup for the second time.

This Wednesday (9), the London team debuts in the semifinals of the competition against Al Hilal, from Saudi Arabia, at 1:30 pm (Brasília time) – Band and BandSports broadcast the game, which defines Palmeiras’ opponent in the decision. Vice-champion in 2012, when it was surpassed by Corinthians in the decision, the blue team fights for the unprecedented, as does the Saudi team.

Even arriving in the United Arab Emirates a few days after his teammates, Mendy will start the duel. From the height of his 1.97 m, he won a captive position in the team for the great performances he had in 2021, when he beat the competition of the Spaniard Kepa Arrizabalaga, hired for 71 million pounds (R$ 512 million).

“Édouard [Mendy] is our number one, and deserves to be number one. You can’t hide your opinion. Things have to be clear, and we can’t be afraid of that,” said Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel.

Recognition goes beyond the coaching staff. In January, he was chosen by FIFA as the best goalkeeper in the world. The victory in the The Best award, organized by the entity, was quite a feat for a player who until 2020 spent a good part of his career playing in the B teams of Olympique and Reims, in France, in addition to spending a period of unemployment, during which had to receive aid from the French government.

Signed in 2020 by the English team, the goalkeeper gained Tuchel’s trust mainly in the Champions League games, in which he became the first black African athlete of his position to reach the final of the main European club tournament. He is still the second black goalkeeper to go that far. Before, only the Brazilian Dida, champion in 2003 and 2007 and runner-up in 2005 for Milan (ITA), had reached the decisive stage.

For the Senegalese, however, the recent conquest by his country carries greater weight. “[Ganhar a Copa Africana] is ten times more than the Champions. Sorry, it’s incomparable”, he defined, a few minutes after saving one of Egypt’s penalty kicks – the Senegalese won the dispute 4-2.

Born in France, the player defends the Senegal national team and has a strong connection with the country because of his mother, who is Senegalese. He also understands that he currently plays an inspirational role for his compatriots, especially those who want to follow the same path as him.

“It’s a responsibility to be the best, play at your highest level, give that opportunity and open doors to other black goalkeepers,” he said in a recent video he recorded alongside fellow goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux. The East Leyton athlete of the English fourth division, the target of racist attacks on the internet, said that Mendy was an inspiration to overcome prejudice.

“I look at Mendy at Chelsea and I see he really paved the way for black goalkeepers. We can look to him as a reference,” Vigouroux said. In the conversation, the Chelsea goalkeeper said he had already been a victim of racism on social media. “We have to denounce all kinds of abuse,” he defended.

While inspiring other goalkeepers and helping to fight prejudice, shirt 16 is also building up his idolatry in the English team, for which he will now have the chance to win his first world title. The first task will be to stop Al Hilal’s attack, which advanced to the semifinals after beating Al Jazira, 6-1. Even with Chelsea being favourites, Mendy should not have an easy life, but he is prepared.