Edouard Mendy isn’t ready to let go of the Saudi Pro League title dream just yet. The Senegal international and Al-Ahli Saudi FC goalkeeper has made it crystal clear that his side are still very much in the hunt, despite sitting five points adrift of league leaders Al Nassr with the season entering its final stretch.
Al-Ahli currently occupy third place on the 18-team Saudi Pro League table with 65 points — level on points with second-placed Al-Hilal, but trailing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr at the summit. For most clubs, that kind of gap this late in the season would signal the beginning of a quiet surrender. Not for Mendy and his teammates.
The former Chelsea shot-stopper has been vocal about what’s driving the squad forward, pointing to their collective resilience as the defining factor in their title push. Speaking to ESPN, Mendy reflected on their recent 3-0 victory over Damac, acknowledging that dropping points earlier against Al Qadsiah made the win feel even more urgent.
“Now it’s the final sprint, so we knew we had to take the points because we dropped some in Al Qadsiah for the first time for a while,” Mendy said. “So, we knew that was very important for the three points.” There was no panic in his tone — just the kind of steely focus you’d expect from a keeper who’s competed at the highest levels in European football.
Edouard Mendy and Al-Ahli Push Hard in Saudi Pro League Title Race
What’s particularly impressive about Al-Ahli’s run is how they’ve managed it through an injury-riddled squad. Mendy didn’t shy away from acknowledging the challenges, but framed it as proof of the squad’s depth and character rather than an excuse. “We have a lot of injuries, but we’re still fighting,” he said. “We stick together and you can see, no matter who plays, we perform. This is the most important.”
That kind of dressing room unity is hard to manufacture — and in a league that’s attracted some of the biggest names in world football, mental strength can be just as decisive as technical quality. Al-Ahli clearly have both.
Mendy also doubled down on his personal mission to keep opposition attacks at bay. Clean sheets, he believes, are the foundation everything else is built on. “We know that if we don’t concede, we have a higher chance to win the game,” he explained. “So for us, it’s really important to not concede goals, to keep the goal closed.” It’s a philosophy as old as football itself — but Mendy backs it up with action between the sticks.
Next up for Al-Ahli is a midweek clash against Al-Fayha Club at King Salman Sport City Stadium, and you can bet Mendy will be aiming to add another clean sheet to his tally. Every point from here is non-negotiable.
For context on just how storied this club is — Al-Ahli have won nine Saudi Professional League titles, 13 King’s Cups, six Crown Prince Cups, two Super Cups, and five Federation Cups. They were also the first Saudi club to win the league and King’s Cup in the same season, achieving that feat twice — in 1978 and 2016. This is a club with a culture of winning, and that history doesn’t escape their current crop of players.
With the Saudi Pro League title race heading into what could be a dramatic final few weeks, Mendy and Al-Ahli aren’t going anywhere quietly. If their rivals drop points — and in football, they always might — Al-Ahli will be ready to pounce. That much, at least, Mendy has made abundantly clear.