Mendy left to pay own medical bills as Senegal’s World Cup medical chaos exposed

Mendy left to pay own medical bills as Senegal’s World Cup medical chaos exposed

Edouard Mendy’s 2026 World Cup campaign took an unfortunate turn when he suffered a knee injury against Norway – but what followed has raised serious questions about Senegal’s treatment of its players.

The Al-Ahli goalkeeper was forced to pay for his own MRI scan after the Senegalese Football Federation failed to secure medical insurance for anyone in the delegation. Mendy injured his left knee while attempting a save during Senegal’s 3-2 group-stage defeat to Norway and left the pitch in the 63rd minute. He needed an MRI to assess the damage and ended up covering the cost himself – a particularly expensive procedure in the United States.

The incident is just one example of wider dysfunction. According to *Sport News Africa*, none of the players, coaches or other members of Senegal’s delegation had insurance coverage during the World Cup. Medical staff worked without proper contracts and had not received all salaries and bonuses owed to them.

A French doctor who joined ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was never given a contract and had to pay for medical examinations – including MRIs for certain players – out of his own pocket, without reimbursement. Senegal’s physiotherapists went unpaid for fees dating back to the AFCON, and some delegation members had to fund their own journeys home.

Tensions inside the medical department ran high, with disagreements over equipment, treatment schedules and the allocation of physiotherapists. Some players arrived late for treatment or missed sessions because no monitoring system was in place. Reports indicate that players did not fully trust team doctor Abderahmane Fedior and often sought medical opinions from outside the national team.

For Mendy, a Champions League winner with Chelsea and former FIFA Best Men’s Goalkeeper, the experience highlights how far Senegal’s organisational standards fell during the tournament. The Lions’ World Cup ended with a dramatic 3-2 extra-time defeat to Belgium after surrendering a two-goal lead, but the off-field failures may leave a longer-lasting stain.

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