Wrexham defender Jacob Mendy, who recently earned his first cap for the Gambia national team, shared his reflections on making his international debut. Mendy, a key player for Wrexham in his second season with the club, was called up to the Gambia squad for World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and the Ivory Coast this month.
Although he did not feature in the first qualifier against Burundi, the 26-year-old left-back seized the opportunity in the game against the Ivory Coast. Mendy, included in the starting lineup, played almost the entire 90 minutes before being substituted in stoppage time. Unfortunately, Gambia lost the match 2-0 to the Ivory Coast.
Taking to social media two days later, Mendy expressed gratitude for the support he received and conveyed his eagerness to continue representing Gambia on the international stage. He mentioned being in the process of assimilating the experience and conveyed his hunger for more opportunities.
Looking ahead, Mendy’s next chance to play for Gambia will be during the Africa Cup of Nations starting in January. The tournament will feature group fixtures against Senegal, Guinea, and Cameroon.
Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson commented on Mendy’s call-up, emphasizing the Gambian manager’s close monitoring of Mendy’s performances. Parkinson acknowledged the competition in Mendy’s position but highlighted the defender’s inclusion as a testament to his impressive campaign. He expressed hope for Mendy to gain valuable experience and emphasized the team’s belief in his abilities, expressing a desire to see Mendy secure meaningful game time rather than being just a squad player. Mendy’s absence due to international duty also impacted Wrexham’s recent match against Accrington Stanley, where they suffered a 2-0 loss.
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