CAF Awards 2023: Yassine Bounou Beats Manchester United's Andre Onana to Win Goalkeeper Award

• Yassine Bounou has been named the Goalkeeper of the Year
• The Moroccan shot-stopper beat Andre Onana to the award
• Bounou joined Al-Hilal during the summer transfer window

Yassine Bounou has been named the 2023 Goalkeeper of the Year at the CAF Awards in his home country of Morocco.

The Al-Hilal goalkeeper beat competition from Manchester United shot-stopper, Andre Onana and Egyptian legend, Mohamed El Shenawy to scoop the award for the first time.

The Moroccan enjoyed an outstanding year, winning the Europa League with Sevilla and leading the Atlas Lions to a historic semi-final berth at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Despite getting permission to attend the ceremony in Marrakech, Bounou stayed back to help Al-Hilal in the quarter-final of the King Cup against Al-Tawoun, a match they won 3-0.

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"Al-Hilal management agreed for me to go to the [awards] ceremony, but I preferred to stay and participate with the team," he said, as quoted by MVN Football News.

"If I win the Goalkeeper of the Year award, I would like to thank my friends and staff at the national team, Sevilla, and Al-Hilal," Bounou added.

Bounou, who finished third in the best FIFA goalkeeper race, left Sevilla to join Al-Hilal in the summer transfer window, as reported by African Football.

Onana nominated for Best Goalkeeper award

Sports Brief previously reported on Man United goalkeeper, Onana being nominated as a top goalkeeper ahead of the CAF Awards in Morocco.

He helped Inter Milan reach their first UEFA Champions League final since 2010 last year, losing to treble-winning EPL side, Manchester City.

United paid £47.2 million to acquire the services of the Cameroonian goalkeeper to replace David de Gea after 12 years at Old Trafford.

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Bounou discusses failed Real Madrid move

Sports Brief also previously reported on Bounou explaining why his move failed after the collapse of his intended transfer to Real Madrid.

The former Sevilla keeper, who signed with Al-Hilal in the SPL this summer, was the primary choice to replace the injured Thibaut Courtois.

The Belgian's long-term injury forced Real Madrid onto the market, with Bounou and a host of other goalkeepers appearing on their radar.