The 10 greatest African goalkeepers of all time

Africa has long been famous for its strikers. Yet the continent has also produced legendary goalkeepers who shone at the World Cup, in the Champions League and at the Africa Cup of Nations. Here is our ranking of the 10 greatest African goalkeepers of all time.

1. Thomas N'Kono (Cameroon)

The pioneer. Thomas N'Kono is the only goalkeeper to have won the African Footballer of the Year award twice (1979 and 1982). A hero of the 1982 World Cup, where Cameroon went home unbeaten, he then starred for eight seasons at Espanyol in Barcelona. Gianluigi Buffon has said he chose to become a goalkeeper after watching him play in 1990.

2. Essam El-Hadary (Egypt)

The record breaker. Essam El-Hadary won four AFCON titles with Egypt (1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010). In 2018, aged 45, he became the oldest player in World Cup history, and even saved a penalty against Saudi Arabia.

3. Badou Zaki (Morocco)

The 1986 African Footballer of the Year, Badou Zaki led Morocco to the top of their group at the 1986 World Cup, ahead of England, Poland and Portugal. It was a first for an African team. He then became a fan favourite at Mallorca in Spain.

4. Joseph-Antoine Bell (Cameroon)

N'Kono's great rival for the national team shirt, Joseph-Antoine Bell won AFCON 1984 with Cameroon. In France, he was one of the league's best goalkeepers, especially with Olympique de Marseille and Girondins de Bordeaux. A strong-willed leader.

5. Yassine Bounou (Morocco)

The hero of the 2022 World Cup. Yassine Bounou was one of the key figures in Morocco's historic run, as the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final, including a decisive penalty shootout against Spain. At club level, he won two Europa League titles with Sevilla (2020 and 2023).

6. Édouard Mendy (Senegal)

A late bloomer at the top level, Édouard Mendy won everything in a single year: the 2021 Champions League with Chelsea, the 2021 FIFA The Best goalkeeper award, then Senegal's first ever AFCON title in early 2022.

7. Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria)

More than 100 caps for the Super Eagles and an AFCON 2013 title as captain. Vincent Enyeama is remembered for his outstanding performance against Messi's Argentina at the 2010 World Cup. In France, he was one of Ligue 1's best goalkeepers with Lille.

8. André Onana (Cameroon)

Trained at the Samuel Eto'o Foundation and then at FC Barcelona, André Onana made his name at Ajax, reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2019. He then played in the 2023 Champions League final with Inter Milan. A modern goalkeeper, very comfortable with the ball at his feet.

9. Bruce Grobbelaar (Zimbabwe)

Liverpool's iconic goalkeeper of the 1980s, Bruce Grobbelaar won the 1984 European Cup, famous for his "spaghetti legs" routine during the penalty shootout in the final against Roma.

10. Boubacar Barry "Copa" (Ivory Coast)

The hero of AFCON 2015. In the final against Ghana, Copa saved the penalty of Ghana's goalkeeper Razak Brimah, then scored the winning spot kick himself, giving Ivory Coast their second continental title.

Honourable mentions

• Peter Rufai (Nigeria), African champion in 1994.
• Carlos Kameni (Cameroon), Olympic champion in 2000 and African champion in 2002.
• Ahmed Shobair (Egypt), Egypt's goalkeeper at the 1990 World Cup.

The ranking at a glance

Who do you think is the greatest African goalkeeper of all time? Tell us in the comments.

Photo: Peter Burdon / Unsplash