Africa Cup of Nations goalkeepers Edouard Mendy, Gabaski Abou-Gabal keeping it real

Yaounde - The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final between Egypt and Senegal that takes place at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon on Sunday (9pm SA time) has, understandably, been dubbed as the Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane show.

After all, the two Liverpool stars have been influential in their countries reaching the ultimate stage of the competition.

It stands to reason then that Salah and Mane will be looked upon to respectively lead the Pharaohs to an eighth title or the Lions of Teranga to a maiden title.

However, the men directly opposite them could have a bigger say on the outcome.

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Goalkeepers Edouard Mendy and Mohamed Gabaski Abou-Gabal are two men with fascinating career tales for whom continental glory would mean a lot.

Having both missed their country’s initial matches for differing reasons they have since proven themselves somewhat indispensable for their sides.

Mendy sat out Senegal’s initial matches due to illness but was no doubt inspired for the event by being voted the world’s best goalkeeper at the Fifa Awards on January 17. The Chelsea number one has since lived up to that lofty billing by guiding Senegal to their third appearance in the final.

That the France-born goalie is now a winner of both the European Champions League and the Super Cup is a reality even he wouldn’t have predicted a while ago. The 29-year-old only turned professional five years ago.

He had a forgetful maiden Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in 2019 when he broke his finger ahead of a match. In Cameroon this year he sat out the first two matches due to being positive for Covid-19 but has been brilliant since then.

Abou-Gabal’s story is a confirmation