Edouard Mendy resumes training after missing FIFA Series

After missing Senegal’s friendly matches during the just concluded FIFA Series, Édouard Mendy has confirmed returning to training with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli.

The 34-year-old former Chelsea custodian was among the top players include Sadio Mane, and Kalidou Koulibaly, who missed Senegal’s matches against Peru, and Gambia as part of the FIFA Series.

Senegal defeated Peru 2-0 before gunning down the Scorpions 3-1.

‘I’ve resumed training and focused for next match’

“It doesn’t take much time (the recovery). We did it at that time because we had a few days before facing Peru,” Mendy told WiwSport.

“We preferred not to take any risks with the approval of the coach and the staff. Now, I’ve resumed training and we’re focusing on tomorrow’s match.”

Mendy further revisited the decision by the Confederation of African Football to strip Senegal of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title won in Morocco, and the decision by the African body to postpone the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Mendy will hope to make the starting XI

Mendy said: “Today, unfortunately, African football suffers from certain shortcomings. When I say that African football is progressing faster than its governing bodies.

“It’s because we see our players shining in the best clubs in the world, winning trophies and representing the continent at its highest level. But this work is still being hampered by decisions that do not favor our competitions.”

Mendy will hope to make the starting XI when Al-Ahli returns to league action with a home fixture against Damac at King Abdullah Sports City on Saturday.

Mendy will also hope to be fit as Senegal prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup slated to start in June, and will be jointly hosted by sixteen cities—eleven in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.

The African champions have been drawn in Group J alongside France, Norway, and Iraq.

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Stormers boss John Dobson said some his strategy for their Champions Cup last-16 clash against Toulon would be to target their weaknesses and strengths simultaneously, denting their confidence and reminding them why they haven’t won in six games.

The teams meet at Stade Mayol in Toulon at 4pm on Saturday, with the Stormers in form after three consecutive wins, while the French giants have not won since January.

Coach Pierre Mignoni is also returning after what he described as a mid-season “breakdown”, saying he needed rest and sleep following a difficult campaign.

The French giants languish in 11th on the Top 14 table and are putting all their eggs in one basket with the Champions Cup, Dobson said after naming his team on Friday.

‘Biggest game of their season’

“It’s been made clear to us on the streets and by the media here that they are on the road to redemption,” Dobson said.

“It’s the biggest game of their season. I suppose a team that has lost five or six in a row lacks confidence but if we can remind them or dent their confidence with our intensity, and they understand the reason why they have lost five or six games, that’s an opportunity.”

He said the Stormers could create doubt by targeting Toulon in the scrums, where both sides are very strong.

“They’ve got the third-best scrum in the Top 14 and we are number one in the URC. Sometimes you look at where the opposition aren’t as strong and other times you have to try and take on their strong points.”

He referred to French star Jean-Baptiste Gros, Teddy Baubigny and English international Kyle Sinckler starting, with Italy international Gianmarco Lucchesi and Georgian Beka Gigashvili on the bench.

“There’s no doubt with that front row and bench, it’s very strong scrum. If you can depower that you go a long way in denting their confidence and getting the doubt back in.

“We’ve sensed one or two opportunities around the kicking game, which I won’t go into too many details about.”

Stormers form their own game plan

Dobson said the decision to start Jurie Matthee ahead of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Connor Evans in place of JD Schickerling, was due to workload management. The latter players are being managed with a possible quarter-final and two URC games in the following three weeks.

“We also wanted to build a bit of capacity by giving Connor and Jurie some rugby,” Dobson added.

“You are looking at a fast bench. So it is up to the starting team to make sure we are in a position to attack this game at the end.

“That was the thinking around changes this week. There was no element of merit, of JD or Sacha being dropped, or something like that.”

Young Africans assistant coach Matthew Silva says despite not having won in the last four Mainland Premier League matches, the truth is that Tanzania Prisons is a competitive team and their match will be difficult on Saturday.

The Citizens will be looking to consolidate their lead at the top of the league table against a side who are winless from their last four matches including the first-round meeting between two sides which Young Africans won 1-0.

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The reverse fixture will be played at KMC Stadium on Saturday and Young Africans will head into the battle as the favourites to seal a double over their opponents. Since beating Namungo FC 3-2 on February 14, Prisons have struggled to win matches.

They lost 2-0 against Young Africans rivals Simba SC, drew 0-0 against Azam FC, lost 1-0 against Young Africans, and lost 2-1 against Singida Black Stars.

Young Africans have overcome small challenges

“We believe in all our players. Our team’s excellent results are due to our unity as a team. We have overcome the small challenges that have faced us. Our mission is to return to our best days of victory. We have a great team that can do that despite the pressures here and there,” Silva, who was speaking on behalf of head coach Pedro Goncalves, told Pan-African Football.

“Our team does not have any systematic challenges; I can accept that injuries have caused our team to lack a good competitive balance. We are the best team currently in the league where we have scored a lot of goals and allowed few goals. Systematic challenges have arisen from either the difficulty of the schedule, injuries and stadium infrastructure. We are not at the top of the league unfortunately.”

Silva added: “Our players have returned from international matches; we are grateful that they have all returned safely and it has been a good opportunity to sit with the entire group of players to plan the best strategies to face Tanzania Prisons.

“We are ready to fight, we know we are going to meet a very strong team. Prisons in their four matches have met tough opponents, they have certainly had enough competition.”

In his message to Young Africans fans ahead of the fixture, Silva said: “I expect to see citizens coming to the stadium in large numbers. Not just coming in large numbers, they should cheer to give the team motivation.

“Fans are an important pillar for any team looking for results, I should not be greedy for favors because Yanga fans have been with us shoulder to shoulder whenever we needed them. We know our home fans are very eager to see us.”

For his part, goalkeeper Abutwalib Mshery, said the league has improved and the teams have improved so Young Africans should not underrate Tanzania Prisons despite their run of four matches without a win.

“Our coaches have done a good job on the training ground, our fans should come out in large numbers, there will be fantastic football from us. We assure the citizens that we will go and fight for their happiness,” said Mshery.

“We know that the last few games did not go as we expected. It is time now to provide entertainment for the citizens and forget the past.”

He added: “All Yanga players are here because they are fighting for the team, any goalkeeper who gets a chance should do well in the game, currently our league has become very good. Many teams have improved. The coaches have made a correct assessment of the previous games and worked on it.”

Prisons ready to defeat Young Africans

Tanzania Prisons coach Shadrack Nsajigwa maintained the match against Yanga is important for them and they need a win and if they miss three points, then even one point will do.

“We are ready for tomorrow’s game with Yanga, and all we need is a win, if we don’t get a win then a draw will be good for us,” explained Nsajigwa.

While Young Africans are sitting top of the table with 38 points from 16 matches, Tanzania Prisons are sitting second from relegation spot with 13 points from 17 matches.