Rabat – Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir has described Morocco’s Yassine Bounou as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of Arab football.
Shobeir said the two goalkeepers remain in regular contact and revealed that Bounou sent him a message following Egypt’s World Cup match against Argentina.
“I am in contact with Bounou, and he sent me a message after the Argentina match,” Shobeir said during a media interview.
Shobeir produced one of Egypt’s most memorable moments of the tournament when he saved Lionel Messi’s penalty during their round-of-16 match. Egypt eventually suffered a 3-2 defeat despite taking a two-goal lead.
The Al Ahly goalkeeper said he also contacted Bounou after Morocco’s penalty-shootout victory over the Netherlands.
Shobeir was particularly impressed by the way Bounou remained standing before stopping one of the Dutch attempts.
“I messaged him after he saved the penalty against the Netherlands while remaining in his position,” Shobeir said.
“I told him: ‘Explain to me how you did it. I have never seen a goalkeeper save a penalty while standing without moving.’ It was something new and certainly another special moment for him.”
Bounou stopped Crysencio Summerville’s decisive effort before Ismael Saibari converted Morocco’s winning penalty. The Atlas Lions won the shootout 3-2 after the match finished 1-1 following extra time.
The result sent Morocco into the round of 16 and added another major penalty moment to Bounou’s World Cup career.
‘He Has created his own style’
Shobeir said Bounou’s influence goes beyond individual saves.
“For me, Bounou is one of the best goalkeepers in the history of Arab football,” he said.
“He is a great goalkeeper who became a professional at an early age and makes a real difference for the Moroccan national team.”
The Egyptian goalkeeper also said Bounou has developed a style that separates him from other players in his position.
“He has created his own style, whether through his movements inside the goal or his exceptional ability to save penalties,” Shobeir added.
Shobeir also spoke warmly about Bounou on a personal level, describing him as a respectful person and saying he was happy to be compared with the Moroccan international.
