AFCON 2023: Ranking The Top Five Goalkeepers to Watch at The Tournament

As the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) approaches, anticipation is building among football enthusiasts.

Scheduled to kick off on January 13th in Ivory Coast, this edition of AFCON is poised to offer a dazzling display of talent and skill, particularly among the goalkeepers.

Now, Sports Brief delves into the top five goalkeepers who are anticipated to make noteworthy impacts during the tournament.

Top goalkeepers to watch at AFCON

Yassine Bounou – Morocco, Al-Hilal SFC

Having secured two Europa League titles with Sevilla, Bounou currently showcases his skills as a goalkeeper for the Saudi Arabian team Al-Hilal.

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Notably, he gained widespread attention during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, achieving the historic feat of becoming the first African goalkeeper to maintain three clean sheets in the tournament's history.

Bounou's exceptional performance included saving two penalty kicks during Morocco's victory over Spain in the round of sixteen, showcasing his prowess.

As he gears up for the AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast, opponents can expect a formidable challenge from Bounou in goal.

Andre Onana – Cameroon, Manchester United

The 27-year-old has experienced a whirlwind of emotions in the past year. Following an impressive season with Inter Milan that led to reaching the UEFA Champions League final, his transition to Manchester United has been less than ideal.

With 45 goals conceded in just 28 games, a significant portion attributed to his errors, the former Ajax goalkeeper faces challenges.

Nevertheless, Onana remains resolute in turning the tide, and the AFCON break might serve as a pivotal moment in his season and, potentially, for Cameroon as a whole.

Mohamed El Shenawy – Egypt, Al Ahly

Having debuted for the Egyptian National team in 2018, the 35-year-old goalkeeper has amassed over 50 appearances for The Pharaohs.

El Shanewy, a three-time CAF Champions League winner, has achieved eight clean sheets this season and notably played in all of his team's matches in the recently concluded FIFA Club World Cup.

Having contributed to Egypt's second-place finish in Cameroon, the Al Ahly goalkeeper is determined to aim for the top with his team in the upcoming tournament in Ivory Coast.

Édouard Mendy (Senegal)

Following his transfer from Chelsea to Al Ahli for £16 million last summer, Édouard Mendy has impressively secured 11 clean sheets in 19 league games.

His notable performance includes saving the decisive penalty in the 2021 final shootout, enabling Sadio Mané to score the winning goal and secure Senegal's inaugural AFCON title. Additionally, Mendy received recognition as the best goalkeeper of the 2021 tournament.

As Senegal's primary goalkeeper for the last two AFCON tournaments, he aims to uphold his previous standards in the upcoming edition.

Ronwen Hayden Williams – South Africa, Mamelodi Sundowns

Once associated with Tottenham, Williams has been a consistent presence for Bafana Bafana since 2021, accumulating a total of thirty-four appearances under coach Hugo Broos.

In the current DStv Premiership season, the 31-year-old goalkeeper has demonstrated his prowess by securing nine clean sheets in eleven games for Mamelodi Sundowns, conceding just two goals.

Beyond his goalkeeping skills, Ronwen also serves as a defensive leader for the South African team, and his performances are expected to be instrumental in determining how far Bafana Bafana can advance in Ivory Coast.

Past AFCON Golden Ball winners

Senegalese forward Sadio Mane was the last player to win the Golden Ball, taking home the award in the 2021 edition in Cameroon.

The Al-Nassr star led Senegal to their maiden championship, scoring the winning goal in the penalty shootout against Egypt.