With the group stage of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations brought to a close last night, AfricanFootball picks the three best goalkeepers from the round-robin phase of the tournament.
Christoffer Mafoumbi (Congo) At just 20 years of age, Christoffer Mafoumbi has certainly made an impression in his debut AFCON tournament. The Le Pontet goalkeeper was a reliable last line of defence for Congo as they surprisingly topped Group A, making several key saves in their opening draw with hosts Equatorial Guinea and subsequent wins over Gabon and Burina Faso. He sneaks ahead of EG’s Felipe Ovono, who conceded one less goal but looked less assured despite having an excellent defence in front of him.
Robert Kidiaba (DR Congo) The TP Mazembe veteran Robert Kidiaba gave arguably the key goalkeeping performance of the group stage when he recorded a clean sheet in DR Congo’s second game with Cape Verde. The 38-year-old (he’ll turn 39 on Sunday), made several vital saves against the Islanders, particularly towards the end of the game, and then helped to keep Tunisia’s potent attack at bay in the 1-1 draw that secured progression for the Leopards.
Fabrice Ondoua (Cameroon) Cameroon may have finished bottom of Group D after their 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast last night, but goalkeeper Joseph Fabrice Ondoua certainly emerges from the disappointment with his reputation very much enhanced. The 19-year-old Barcelona B player put in three eye-catching performances and looks a fantastic prospect for the Indomitable Lions. You can expect to see a lot more of him in future AFCON tournaments.
Honourable mentions: Felipe Ovono (Equatorial Guinea), Vozinha (Cape Verde), Rais Mbolhi (Algeria), Bouna Coundoul (Senegal), Sylvain Gbohouo (Ivory Coast)