Edouard Mendy earned a rapturous ovation as the Senegalese goalkeeper reunited with his Chelsea team-mates following his Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
Mendy, 29, saved a penalty kick to help his nation to their first ever AFCON title in Cameroon on Sunday, with the tournament favourites defeating Mohamed Salah’s Egypt 4-2 on spot kicks.
The shot stopper briefly went back to Senegal where he received a hero’s welcome along with his team-mates, with the nation granted a public holiday to celebrate their historic victory.
Mendy shared footage of himself atop a bus as it made its way through the streets of Dakar, with supporters dancing, waving flag
He has linked up with Chelsea teammates ahead of their Club World Cup tie in Abu Dhabi.
The Premier League club shared a video of the goalkeeper returning to camp, with team-mates clapping and cheering for the stopper after his exploits with his national team.
The goalkeeper can pick up a second trophy in a matter of days with Thomas Tuchel’s side striving to win their first ever Club World Cup.
The Blues played in this tournament 10 years ago, but lost out to Brazilian side Corinthians in the final in Yokohama.
Chelsea face Al Hilal in the semi-final tonight and Blues assistant Zsolt Low was unable to confirm whether Mendy would feature in the last-four clash.
‘He has to arrive first, we have to check him and talk to him,’ Low said yesterday. ‘We’ll see if it’s possible he plays, maybe.
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