Asamoah Gyan, the legendary goalie of Ghana’s Black Stars, has said that Egypt’s Mohamed Abou Gabal, also known as Gabaski, was the greatest goalkeeper during the recently finished Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
On Thursday night, Gabaski was the hero as the Pharaohs defeated the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the second semifinal of the AFCON.
Gabaski, who plays for Zamalek, gave Egypt the final ticket by saving two penalties in a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Cameroon.
Egypt had also defeated the Elephants of Ivory Coast on penalty kicks before their match against Cameroon, with Gabaski stopping one of the Ivoiriens’ efforts.
Gabaski was a nightmare for the Senegalese team in Yaounde, save from saving Mane’s seventh-minute penalty.
Gyan believes Gabaski has a positive energy that he uses to support the squad. He noted has been a second goalie for ten years, and there’s something he’s been doing behind the scenes to support the players.
“Even when he’s on the field, you can tell he’s a motivator by the way he controls people. That’s why he’s been there all these years, and when the opportunity arose, he delivered. He was, in my opinion, the best goalkeeper in the tournament.”
“No disrespect to Mendy,” Gyang added, “but he [Gabaski] did everything he could to keep Egypt in the competition.”
