Egyptian goalkeeper Gabaskey Mohamed Abou Gabar told reporters in his native Egypt that he will be in the running for the Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy for the ‘Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament’ award.
Mendy was named the ‘Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament’ at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021 after his performance in the penalty shootout against Egypt in the final, saving a crucial penalty from Mostafa Lasheen.
The Chelsea goalkeeper missed Senegal’s first two matches after contracting COVID-19, but returned to help the Teranga Lions win their first Africa Cup of Nations title in Cameroon.
According to Gabaskey, he had a bigger impact on the Cameroon team than Mendy in this tournament and played a more important role for his team.
“Even if I won the individual award, it would not make any difference because we lost the Africa Cup of Nations. The national team championship,” Gabarski told MBC Masr.
“I think my stats are a little better than Mendy’s, but CAF’s decisions are often strange.”
“Mendy himself said I was better” “I took part in the tournament and he told me to keep going because we will meet again in the World Cup qualifiers next March.”
Gabaski joined the tournament after first-choice goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy opted out due to injury in the round of 16 against Ivory Coast. The 33-year-old Zamalek goalkeeper came off the bench in the final stages and saved Eric Bailly’s penalty in the shootout.
Gabaski also saved two penalties in the semi-final against hosts Cameroon to help Egypt advance to the final of the tournament. He saved Sadio Mané’s penalty early in the final and made some stunning saves as the match progressed.
The Egyptian goalkeeper was not included in the official squad for the tournament. Senegalese goalkeeper Mendy started the match, with Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana on the bench. However, he was named Man of the Match in the final against Senegal.
