African goalkeeping shines again as Mohamed Kamara earned Sierra Leone a historic point against AFCON holders Algeria

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Mohamed Kamara produced a Man of the Match display to help Sierra Leone earn a point against reigning AFCON champions Algeria.

The 22-year-old goalkeeper produced a string of fine saves to keep Algeria at bay as the Leone Stars held out for a 0-0 draw in their first fixture at the African Cup of Nations since 1996.

In total, Kamara produced seven saves for the tournament minnows, denying the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Islam Slimani and Sofiane Feghouli and ensured the African heavyweights failed to score in an AFCON fixture for the first time since 2018.

At club level, the 22-year-old plays in the Sierra Leone Premier League for the East End Lions where he has also been in fine form producing 11 clean sheets in 17 matches this season.

However, this was by far the biggest stage Kamara has played on, in just his 10th appearance for his nation. The stalemate against Algeria ensured the goalkeeper claimed his fifth clean sheet and the 22-year-old was drawn to tears as he celebrated the point and accepted the Man of the Match award.

Is the perception of African goalkeepers slowly changing?

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While some of Kamara’s stops were unorthodox, the goalkeeper proved to be an imposing figure flying off his line to tackle and head away any threats from long balls.

Goalkeepers are often most susceptible to criticism as any mistake they make is often punished and highlighted in the process of conceding a goal.

However, there has been a lasting stigma around football that African goalkeeping is of a lesser standard to the European and American equivalent.

Kamara’s performance, however, was quite similar to the one of Mexican goalkeeping hero Guillermo Ochoa against Brazil in the 2014 World Cup and proved once again that goalkeepers of African heritage can compete at the top level.

The number of African goalkeepers in the major European leagues is ever-growing with the likes of Edouard Mendy, Andre Onana and Alfrid Gomis all excelling.

Mendy has been a catalyst in the changing perception of African goalkeepers as the Senegalese international was pivotal in the revitalisation of Chelsea as he produced nine clean sheets in 12 matches to help them win the Champions League last season.

His performances were awarded with the tournament’s Golden Glove award and the European Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Mendy came second to Gianluigi Donnarumma in the recent Yashin Trophy for Goalkeeper of the Year and has since been put on a three-man shortlist for FIFA’s Best Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Just seven years ago, Mendy was unemployed and his meteoric rise can help inspire other African goalkeepers to pursue their dreams too.

The first of which could be Kamara, who at the young age of 22, has plenty of time to improve his game and further impressive performances during the African Cup of Nations will certainly put him in the shop window of several European clubs.

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