After Senegal’s defeat to France (3-1) in their opening match at the 2026 World Cup, held at MetLife Stadium in New York, Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy spoke to beIN Sports. The Lions’ keeper had a tough night, conceding three goals, including a brace from Kylian Mbappé, who has recently become the all-time top scorer for the French national team. Despite a first half that was mostly controlled at times, Senegal ultimately succumbed to the rising power of the French attack.
In his analysis, the Senegalese last line of defense highlighted a lack of continuity in his team’s play. He felt that the instructions were not fully applied throughout the match, which prevented the Lions from maintaining constant pressure on their opponents. According to him, certain phases of play showed promising intentions, but they were too sporadic to genuinely trouble the French defense.
Édouard Mendy particularly pointed out a lack of offensive aggression at key moments in the match, especially in the second half. Senegal, which had managed to contain the French for part of the first half, failed to step up after the break. This drop in intensity allowed France to gradually take control of the pace and become more effective in decisive areas.
The Senegalese goalkeeper also emphasized the individual quality of the opponent, believing that every offensive situation could quickly become dangerous.
France, backed by several players capable of making a difference in isolated actions, was able to convert its opportunities with realism. For Mendy, this level of efficiency forces defenders to stay focused at all times, even during seemingly innocuous phases.
🇸🇳💥 Édouard Mendy after Senegal’s defeat to France!#FRASEN #CDM2026 pic.twitter.com/9g3kSsdySQ
— Onze Mondial (@OnzeMondial) June 16, 2026
Now looking ahead to the rest of the competition, Senegal must quickly focus on their next group match against Norway. This encounter, scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, already appears to be a crucial moment to regain momentum. Pape Thiaw’s men will need to address the shortcomings observed against France if they want to stay in the race for qualification, in a group where every point will count.
