Concerns have emerged over the fitness of Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy after he failed to rejoin training with the national squad following a rest day granted after their 3-1 defeat by France at the World Cup.
The 34-year-old Al-Ahli shot-stopper did not take part in the session that followed the squad’s recovery break, casting doubt over his availability for Senegal’s upcoming Group stage fixture against Norway, scheduled for the night between Monday and Tuesday at 00:00 GMT.
Mendy had produced a strong individual performance in the defeat to France, despite Senegal falling to a 3-1 loss against the European side.
However, his absence from training has raised questions within the camp, particularly given the short turnaround before the next match against a Norway side that began their campaign in impressive fashion with a 4-1 victory over Iraq.
The training session was partially open to the media for the first 15 minutes, but there was no clear explanation provided for Mendy’s absence from on-field activities. The Senegalese coaching staff have not issued any official update regarding the goalkeeper’s condition.
As a result, uncertainty remains over whether the experienced number one will be fit enough to face Norway’s attacking threat, which includes striker Erling Haaland.
Speculation has grown around possible reasons for Mendy’s absence, including injury, fatigue or general physical discomfort, although none of these have been confirmed.
Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw will be hoping to have his first-choice goalkeeper available for what is expected to be a demanding encounter, given the strength of Norway’s attacking unit and their momentum following a convincing opening win.
If Mendy is unable to recover in time, Senegal still have alternative options in their squad. Yehvann Diouf and Mory Diaw are both available and could be called upon to step into the starting role if required.
The situation is being closely monitored as Senegal prepare for a crucial match in their group campaign, with the outcome potentially significant in determining progression to the knockout stages.
Mendy’s importance to the national team has been highlighted by his consistent performances over recent years, and his potential absence would represent a significant setback for Senegal as they look to recover from their opening defeat.
The goalkeeper recently reached a milestone by making his 50th official appearance for Senegal in the match against France, further underlining his status as a key figure in the squad.
He now has 59 caps in total, surpassing El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf’s record of 49 official matches and becoming the eighth-most capped player in the nation’s history.
Despite that achievement, attention is now focused firmly on his fitness and whether he will be available to face Norway.
With limited time remaining before kick-off, Senegal are expected to continue monitoring his condition closely before making a final decision on his involvement in the match.
