His phenomenal relaxation at close range in front of the Qatari Ismail Mohamad, one of the most beautiful stops of the tournament, reassured the "den".

"I'm very satisfied with the boys, especially Édouard Mendy who kept us in this match for a long time," said coach Aliou Cissé after the victory against Qatar (3-1).

"Doudou" Mendy, as he was called when he was N.3 goalkeeper at Olympique de Marseille, had raised some doubts against the Netherlands (2-0), where he missed his exit on the opener .

"It happens to have moments like that, but I think people do a little too much, you shouldn't make a big story out of it too much", defended Kalidou Koulibaly.

The defeat against the Oranje, "the whole team is at fault, it's not just one player", insisted the captain.

"I'm not worried, Édouard can play a great match" against Qatar, continued Koulibaly, his club teammate (Chelsea).

What he did.

Pape Gueye also predicted it.

"He's the best goalkeeper in the world, so why would there be a problem?"

asked the Marseillais.

"He's a manager. He performs well, helps others, speaks to us".

"A mind of steel"

Aliou Cissé had "no doubt about his qualities, he will have the opportunity to show who he is. Édouard is one of the best goalkeepers in the world".

Senegal coach Aliou Cissé congratulates his goalkeeper Edouard Mendy after the match against Qatar during the World Cup on November 25, 2022 at the Al-Thumama stadium in Doha OZAN KOSE AFP

The coach also knew that after a mixed start to the season, his goalkeeper had "a lot to prove, but he is a man of challenge".

"Édouard is fine", reassured Aliou Cissé after the first match a little missed at the World Cup.

"He's a boy who has a steely mind. Of course we exchanged with him as I do with most of our players."

For the coach, "the qualities of Edouard are not to be doubted. I know that he is indeed a boy who is going through somewhat difficult times, but I have no doubts. He has my complete confidence, completely the confidence of his teammates."

Winner of the Champions League in 2021, then decisive in the first African Cup won by Senegal, in 2022, Mendy indeed experienced a difficult start to the 2022-2023 financial year with Chelsea.

A goal gag spoiled his month of August, a failed dribble against Brenden Aaronson which precipitated the Blues' heavy defeat at Leeds (3-0).

Then he suffered a knee injury in September, and on his return new coach Graham Potter kept Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal.

But the Spaniard was injured in turn against Brighton and Mendy returned.

The Senegalese goalkeeper has found his place, but without splinters, without the spectacular stops to which he has accustomed his supporters, the blues as well as the greens-yellows-reds, until this badly put together match against the Netherlands.

But he intends to show against the Ecuador of the co-top scorer (with Kylian Mbappé) of the tournament, Enner Valencia (3 goals), that he is still among the best.

© 2022 AFP