Senegal Drops Chelsea's Mendy As Goalkeeper

Senegal's national football team have dropped Chelsea's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and their friendly encounter against five-time world champions Brazil.

Chelsea goalie Mendy has been dropped from the team by coach Aliou Cisse and replaced by Mory Diaw who plays for Clermont Foot in France.

Mendy, who was awarded FIFA's Best Goalkeeper accolade and served as the first-choice goalkeeper during the World Cup in Qatar last year, missed Senegal's previous two international matches against Mozambique in March due to an injury.

However, despite his recovery, Mendy has struggled to regain his spot in Chelsea's starting lineup from Spanish Kepa Arrizabalaga, leading to his exclusion from the national team.

Nevertheless, several key players are set to make a return to the Senegal squad.

Abdou Diallo, Cheikhou Kouyaté, and Ismaila Sarr, who missed the March fixtures due to injuries, are back in contention.

Additionally, Nicolas Jackson, the talented Villarreal striker who was left out against Mozambique, has earned a recall for the upcoming matches.

Excitingly, there is also a maiden call-up for Pape Ousmane Sakho, a winger plying his trade for Simba in Tanzania.

Sakho's impressive performances have caught the attention of the national team selectors, earning him an opportunity to represent his country at the international level.

Unfortunately, Senegal will be without the services of injured strikers Boulaye Dia and Bamba Dieng, as well as the uncapped defender Noah Fadiga, who was on the bench during the March fixtures.

Senegal Squad: 

Goalkeepers: Mory Diaw (Clermont Foot, France), Seny Dieng (Queens Park Rangers, England), Alfred Gomis (Como, Italy)

Defenders: Fode Ballo Toure (AC Milan), Abdou Diallo (RB Leipzig, Germany), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco, France), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea, England), Formose Mendy (Amiens, France), Abdallah Ndour (Sochaux, France), Moussa Niakhate (Nottingham Forest, England), Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis, Spain), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa, Israel)

Midfielders: Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano, Spain), Krepin Diatta (Monaco, France), Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton, England), Pape Gueye (Sevilla, Spain), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest, England), Dion Lopy (Stade Reims, France), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City, England), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur, England)

Forwards: Habib Diallo (Racing Strasbourg, France), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal, Spain), Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich, Germany), Ilimane Ndiaye (Sheffield United, England), Pape Ousmane Sakho (Simba, Tanzania), Ismaila Sarr (Watford, England).