Top 10 Best Goalkeepers In Africa 2021 Listed

Who are the top 10 best goalkeepers in Africa? So many of them! Talk about the likes of Denis Onyango, Vincent Enyeama, Essam Elhadary, Jacques Songoo, Ezzaki Badou, Andre Onana, Carlos Kameni, Devis Epassy, Fabrice Ondoa, Simon Omossola, Blondy Nna Noukeu, and so on.

 

Yes, these guys are all goalkeepers, some of whom will suit an article on all-time goalies in Africa.

But this post is looking at the top 10 best goalkeepers in Africa currently.

10. MOUEZ HASSEN

One of the greatest shot-stoppers in Africa currently, Mouez Hassen has proven he deserves to be on this list.

The 26-year-old Tunisian is known for his positive energy, commanding presence, and ability to maintain calm in tense situations.

He is currently signed to Belgian Side Club Brugge and has been able to create a reputation for himself as a team player.

Of course, it would be unfair to take away his on-field teams, such as feigning an injury to wait down the clock and his more recent Kepa-like refusal to be subbed for penalty shootouts. 

Despite all of this, he has been able to stake his claim of one of Africa’s great. 

9. RAIS MBOLHI

Until 2019, Mbolhi has not been given his well-deserved recognition as one of Africa’s best.

The 26-year-old Algerian goalkeeper was the last man guiding the National team while they coasted to victory in the 2019 Africa cup of nations.

Mbolhi has always been a special goalkeeper, with his towering height of 6 feet 2 inches giving him a physically dominating presence in the final third.

He is well known for winning aerial balls and claiming corners easily due to his height advantage.

Another quality the Algerian possesses is his ability to give long-range passes and pick out teammates.

He currently plays for Al-Ettifaq and is one of the major figures in the team.

8. MELVIN ADRIENE

Melvin Adriene is a 27 years old Madagascar goalkeeper currently signed to FC Martigues.

 

In 2019 Afcon Melvin performed exceptionally to the success of his Madagascar team against Tunisia, Nigeria and Dr. Congo.

Madagascar surprised Africans with such a feat.

For this ongoing season, Andrien has been between the sticks for 14 games and has been able to keep six clean sheets in total.

7. DENIS ONYANGO

Denis Onyango is a 36-year-old Uganda goalkeeper currently signed with Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club in South Africa.

In 2016 he won the 2016 CAF Champions League and took part in the FIFA Club World Cup of the same year.

The international federation of football history and statistics in 2016 ranked him as the 10th best goalkeeper in the world and was also named the 2016 African-based African player of the year.

He was also able to keep 14 clean sheets in the 2015/2016 season and won the PSL goalkeeper award of that same season.

Denis Onyango’s stopping skills and interventions have made him one of the finest goalkeepers in PSL history.

6. ALEXANDRA OUKIDJA

Alexandra Oukidja is a 32 years old Algerian goalkeeper currently signed with French club FC Metz.

He is one of the best goalkeepers in Africa and proved that with his club in 2020/2021.

Alexandra was able to keep eight clean sheets for his struggling side, and his contribution between the sticks was impactful in keeping his team from slipping back to relegation, just after a year of performing at the top flight.

He won 17 aerial duels and two tackles.

5. ALFRED GOMIS

Alfred Gomis is a 27 years old Senegalese goalkeeper currently with the Rennes Club.

He played 21 games last season and was able to keep seven clean sheets.

Top 10 Best Goalkeepers In Africa

Due to his exceptional performance, he was voted Dijon Player of the Year for the 2019/2020 season by club fans.

He played a vital role in helping Senegal advance to the final of the 2019 African Cup of Nations when he replaced his country’s first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy due to a hand injury.

His team eventually lost the final to Senegal.

4. ANDRE ONANA

Andre Onana is a 25 years old Cameroonian goalkeeper currently with the Dutch club Ajax.

Though he is still under suspension for using a banned substance, it isn’t easy to put aside his impressive performance in the recent 2020/2021 European Champions League.

The extremely flexible goalkeeper has earned a place in our list after proving himself in both his local league and the European scene.

In 2019, Onana contributed immensely to his club Ajax just run to the Champions League semi-finals.

He has been able to keep seven clean sheets in 13 matches during last season before the coronavirus pandemic prompted the cancellation of Eredivisie.

This is quite impressive as a player who has only been in football’s top flight for about three years.

3. MOHAMMAD EL SHENAWY

Mohammad El Shenawy is a 32-year-old Egyptian goalkeeper currently with Al Ahly football club.

He won three consecutive Egyptian Premier League titles from the 2017/2018 season to the 2019/2020 season.

In 2018 he was able to keep five clean sheets in 7 matches which earned him the highest percentage of clean sheets in the Egyptian Premier League.

His exploit in the 2018 season also earned him his first international call and the automatic first choice goalie position for the Egypt international team.

He was also the starting goalkeeper for FIFA World Cup, which was held in the same year.

Mohammad’s commanding performance and success make him one of the best goalkeepers in Africa.

2. YASSINE BOUNOU

Yassine Bounou is a 30 years-old Moroccan goalkeeper currently signed with La Liga club Sevilla.

 

He won the La Liga title with Atletico Madrid in 2014 during his time with the Spanish giants.

In 2018 he was named La Liga African best player while playing for Sevilla and repeated his classy performances the following season by winning the best goalkeeper in the Europa League for the 2019/2020 season.

Bounou has been able to hold his own weight in the Spanish top-flight league.

He holds the record for the goalkeeper with the highest consecutive minutes of clean sheets for Sevilla, a total of 528 minutes which translates to five straight games.

In March 2021, he scored his first goal against Real Valladolid, with the goal coming in the last minute of the game.

The goal made him the first Sevilla goalkeeper to achieve such a feat.

1. EDOUARD MENDY

Even before joining Chelsea, Mendy has always been highly rated and considered Africa’s number one goalie.

This move to the English giant only cemented the view as he quickly settled in and equaled Petr Cech’s record of 3 clean sheets in his first couple of games.

Top 10 Best Goalkeepers In Africa

The feat was only the beginning of a great debut season.

Emulating his 13 clean sheet spell with Rennes prior to coming to Chelsea, the Senegalese led the blues to their second Champions League title after beating local rivals Manchester City in a match that saw him keep a clean sheet.

While there is still room for improvement, there is no doubt that Mendy is right now the best goalkeeper in Africa.

So my friends, those guys up there are the top 10 best goalkeepers in Africa at the moment. Opinions are welcome in the comment box.