Goalkeepers unlike outfield players, enjoy lengthy careers with most retiring at forty years of age. This is attributed to their role being less physically demanding.
Their role is usually underrated with a team's successes being credited to outfield players. Goalkeepers’ contribution to a football team cannot be down played. Their prowess between the sticks is ussualy the difference especially in tight matches.
Below are the six finest African shot stoppers ever.
6. Vincent Enyeama
The former Nigeria national team captain represented the Super Eagles 101 times becoming the country's most capped player.
He made his debut in 2002 and retired in 2015. He part of the Super Eagles that won the 2013 AFCON edition and made the team of the tournament.
At club level, he played for Enyimba where he twice won the CAF champions league.
He signed for Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2007 and won the 'Player of the year' award in 2009. The next season, he won the league and cup double with the Israeli club.
5. Carlos Kameni
The Cameroonian made over 200 league appearances for the club Laliga club Espanyol before switching to rivals Malaga in early 2012.
In 2017 he joined Turkish side Fernabahce after five years with Malagasy.
He played all three knock-out matches to help Cameroon win Olympic football gold at the 2000 Games in Sydney.
Kameni was crucial as the Indomitable Lions finished second at the 2003 Fifa Confederations Cup in France.
He has 74 caps for his country and was part of the Cameroon squad at the 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments
4. Joseph-Antoine Bell
Also from Cameroon, Joseph-Antoine Bell had a stellar career that lasted for over 20 years.
He represented Cameroon at three world cups and did win Africa cup of Nations twice.
His club career was also exceptional. He played for renowned clubs such as Olympique Marseille, Bordeaux and Saint Ettiene.
3. Jacques Song'oo
Just like Bell and Kameni he is also from Cameroon. He made 98 appearances for the national team.
He spent much of his club career in Spain and France. It is in Spain where he is remembered for being instrumental for Deportivo la Coruna team that won the league in 1999/2000 season.
2. Essam El-Hadary
The man Didier Drogba once claimed was his toughest opponent; Essam El-Hadary is critically underrated.
El-Hadary was a four-time Cup of Nations winner with Egypt—no one has more titles. He made the team of the tournament thrice, and over three Cup of Nations finals, he didn’t concede a single goal.
He has won the league in Sudan with Al-Merreikh and in Egypt with Ahly a remarkable eight times. This is supplemented by an outstanding four African Champions League triumphs and a host of other honours from both Egypt and the continent.
1. Thomas N'kono
Arguably the greatest goalkeeper Africa has produced, N'kono has been an inspiration to many.
His legacy has ensured Cameroon's continuity to produce great goalkeepers to date.
N'kono has been recognized by Gianlugi Buffon as the reason he is a goalkeeper thanks to his heroics at the 1990 world cup.
His career lasted for 23 years which saw him win AFCON twice and represent Cameroon at three world cups.