Life cannot get much better for Edouard Mendy. In under 12 months, he has become: a Champions League winner - the first African keeper to do so; a Club World Cup champion; recognised as The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper for 2021; and lifted the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. That career-defining period just got better on Tuesday, qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar after a dramatic clash with Egypt.
It was of great irony the manner of Senegal's qualification mirrored the way they won AFCON in February. A win against Egypt on penalties with Mendy saving one and Sadio Mane slotting home the winning kick.
This was not a shootout of great quality, five penalties being missed, with several going wide of the target, including a wild effort by the usually precise Mohamed Salah in controversial circumstances, with the Liverpool star being illuminated by dozens of laser pens. Mendy's save from Mostafa Mohamed on the penultimate round of kicks proved vital in order for Mane to send his nation to Qatar at the end of this year.
