Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy, Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez and several of the continent’s leading players announced their international retirement in 2026, in what Sport News Africa describes as a major generational change.
African football underwent a major generational shift in 2026, with several departures reshaping national teams. According to Sport News Africa, Édouard Mendy, Riyad Mahrez, Aïssa Mandi and Cheikhou Kouyaté have announced the end of their journeys: international for the first three, professional for the last. The announcements came in stages between July and October.
In Senegal, Mendy guarded the Lions’ goal for eight years. In Algeria, Mahrez and Mandi are leaving the Fennecs, two of the most-capped players in the national team.
Mendy, the defining save of 2022
Édouard Mendy announced his international retirement in September, after eight years with the Senegal national team. According to the CAF, cited by Sport News Africa, the goalkeeper ends with 59 caps and 31 clean sheets.
His name remains above all associated with Senegal’s first continental title. In the final of the 2021 AFCON, played in February 2022 against Egypt, he saved an opponent’s attempt in the penalty shootout, a major role in the Lions’ triumph.
Algeria: Mahrez and Mandi close the chapter
Riyad Mahrez announced the end of his international career in July, after Algeria’s elimination by Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup. According to the CAF, he leaves the Fennecs with 119 caps and 40 goals. His name remains linked to the 2019 triumph, where he scored the decisive free kick against Nigeria in the semi-final.
Defender Aïssa Mandi also announced his international retirement in July, with more than 110 caps. These two departures force Algeria to rely on a new generation embodied by Ibrahim Maza, Anis Hadj Moussa, Mohamed Amoura and Amine Gouiri, according to Sport News Africa.
Kouyaté, the end of a professional career
Cheikhou Kouyaté announced in October the end of his professional career. The midfielder has 92 caps with the Senegal Lions. Unlike Mendy, Mahrez and Mandi, this is not an international retirement but the end of his playing career.
Senegal thus lose a goalkeeper and a midfielder with many caps, Algeria two figureheads of their defence and attack. Sport News Africa does not detail the reasons for these retirements.