Senegalese goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy clinched the goalkeeper of the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations held in Cameroon over Egyptian goalie, Abou Gabal.
The 29 year old goalie, Mendy was named as the tournament’s top goalkeeper after keeping three clean sheets from five appearances in Cameroon.
Mendy was the penalty hero yesterday after he saved Mohanad Lasheen’s penalty, giving the Teranga Lions of Senegal an advantage to lift the title.
However, there are opposing opinions to this, some feel Abou Gabal deserved to win the award over Mendy. Afterall Abou Gabal saved Egypt multipletimes, ever since he was called on to replace El Shennawy.
Abou Gabal was the reason Egypt kept clean sheets in the semi final and final stages, against Cameroon and Senegal, he kept the Pharaohs in the tournament with multiple world class saves and dragged the games to extra time, which Egypt had an edge due to his spot kicking saves.
Gabaski appeared in only four games with two starts but, he made an undeniable impact in each of those games. Starting with his first appearance which was predominantly an extra time display against Ivory Coast and then the penalty shootout in which he was the hero.
In the following game against Morocco, Gabaski saved three of the four shots he faced.
In the semi-final against Cameroon, Gabaski was Egypt’s highest-rated player and saved all three of Cameroon’s shots on target and then went on to save two penalties in the shootout to send Egypt to the final.
Against Senegal in the AFCON final, in 90 minute, Abou Gabal made eight saves including Mane’s penalty in the fifth minutes making it his fourth penalty save in the tournament. He also went on to save a penalty during the shootout.
Gabaski made eight saves in the final alone while Edouard Mendy made seven saves in the whole tournament. The best goalkeeper at the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is crystal clear to see, Mohamed Abou Gabal popularly known as Gabaski
