Best goalkeeper in AFCON 2025: World Cup 2022 hero against Portugal claims the Golden Glove

The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON 2025, stood out as a major celebration of African football, highlighting the continent’s top tier talent. Staged in Morocco, the competition wrapped up in January 2026 and was widely praised for its high level of play and impressive facilities. In the final, Senegal claimed their second AFCON crown with a narrow 1-0 win over hosts Morocco after a fiercely contested match.

The battle for individual awards was largely dominated by the two finalists, Morocco and Senegal. As two of Africa’s traditional powerhouses, both sides featured squads filled with quality and experience across every position, from goalkeeper to forward, making the race for personal honors just as compelling as the fight for the title.

In this article, Livescorecz.net ranks the top 10 best goalkeeper in AFCON 2025

Best goalkeeper in AFCON 2025

Yassine Bounou, the reigning CAF Goalkeeper of the Year, earned the Golden Glove as the Best Goalkeeper of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, completing an outstanding tournament with the Atlas Lions. Although Morocco’s hopes of lifting the trophy on home soil were dashed by a 1-0 defeat to Senegal after extra time in the final, Bono’s performances remained a major highlight for supporters. His composure, authority in the box, and series of vital saves proved decisive throughout the competition. He consistently produced clean sheets and sharp reflex stops that kept Morocco competitive in closely contested matches and denied some of the continent’s most dangerous attackers.

One of his most defining moments came in the semi final against Nigeria. After 120 goalless minutes, the match was decided by a penalty shootout, where Bono saved two attempts and steered Morocco to a 4-2 victory, securing their first AFCON final appearance in more than two decades. His progression from Morocco’s youth system to European football and eventually to the senior national team reflects his steady rise among Africa’s elite goalkeepers. Furthermore, his instrumental role in Morocco’s historic run to the semi finals of the 2022 World Cup reinforced his image as a player who excels in high pressure situations.

Senegal’s last line of defense, Edouard Mendy, remarkably matched Bounou in nearly every statistical category during the tournament. Both goalkeepers kept five clean sheets in seven matches with 2 goals conceded and each completed 630 minutes on the pitch. Mendy has reaffirmed his status among the world’s top goalkeepers after his transfer to the Saudi Pro League and his recent achievements with the Senegal national team. In the final against Morocco, he delivered a decisive moment by stopping a penalty from Brahim Díaz, a save that many observers believe played a crucial role in securing the championship for Senegal.

Earlier in his career, Mendy was a key figure in Chelsea’s squad that captured the UEFA Champions League title in 2021. After moving to Al Ahli from Chelsea in 2023, he quickly became an essential presence for the Jeddah club, contributing to their push near the top of the standings. During the 2023-24 season, his first year with the team, he registered 15 clean sheets, the highest total in the Saudi Pro League, and featured in every minute of the campaign, underlining his reliability and consistency.

Another standout figure at the tournament was Stanley Nwabali. Representing Nigeria, he kept four clean sheets and conceded just three goals across six matches. His display in the quarter final against DR Congo drew significant attention, as he produced two vital saves in open play to maintain parity on the scoreboard. Rather than operating solely as a conventional shot stopper, Nwabali earned recognition for his sweeper keeper style, frequently launching attacks with precise long passes and confident distribution.

During the ongoing 2025-26 campaign, he has registered eight clean sheets in 19 outings for Al Ettifaq. Working under Steven Gerrard, Nwabali has been praised for his leadership at the back, helping organize a defensive unit that currently boasts the third best defensive record in the league this season.

Here are the remaining goalkeepers in the top 10 best goalkeeper in AFCON 2025

Top 10 best goalkeeper in AFCON 2025

Yassine Bounou - Morocco - 5 clean sheets - 7 matches

Edouard Mendy - Senegal - 5 clean sheets - 7 matches

Stanley Nwabali - Nigeria - 4 clean sheets - 6 matches

Luca Zidane - Algeria - 3 clean sheets - 4 matches

Oufa Shobeir - Egypt - 2 clean sheets - 2 matches

Yannick Pandor - Comoros - 2 clean sheets - 3 matches

Lionel Mpasi-Nzau - DR Congo - 2 clean sheets - 4 matches

Yahia Fofana - Ivory Coast - 2 clean sheets - 4 matches

Kilian Nikièma - Burkina Faso - 1 clean sheet - 1 match

Ivane Urrubal - Mozambique - 1 clean sheet - 2 matches

Livescorecz.net ranks the top 10 best goalkeeper in AFCON 2025

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