Cameroon legend tips goalkeeping duo

African goalkeeper of the century Joseph Antoine Bell has tipped Uganda Cranes’ Dennis Onyango and Egypt veteran shot stopper Essam El-Hadary to shine at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

The two time Africa Cup winner and Egyptian league winner in 1982 singled out the two goalkeepers for their calmness, organizational abilities and experience that will help their respective countries perform well.

In an interview with supersport.com in Libreville, Bell alluded to the fact that for any team to perform at the African football showpiece they have to include a good goalkeeper.

“The 2017 Afcon will be tough but I foresee goalkeepers such as Uganda’s Dennis Onyango and El Hadary of Egypt giving good performances as they have been consistent coming into the competition and I believe they will equally perform well in Gabon.”

“No team can perform well in any tournament without a good goalkeeper but again we must remember that football is all about team work and cohesion that is what produces results,”

He also gave his thoughts which team he thinks can go all the way in Gabon.

“All the teams have a chance as long as they play as a unit but looking at Egypt and Ivory Coast I see a lot of positives and those are most likely the teams that have the best chance to lift the trophy,” he added.

Bell also added his voice to the debacle that saw several key players decline to play for the Cameroon team.

“I completely understand the players you cannot have a player who was born and bred in Europe and knows what professionalism is to come and play where no one respects them and all the time they have issues about bonuses. At that point the players feel they don’t need to be subjected to the many issues bedevilling the team that’s why they chose to abstain and stay put in Europe,” Bell said.

Bell is a former Al-Mokawloon al-Arab (Egypt), Olympique De Marseille, Sporting Toulon Var, FC Girondins de Bordeaux and AS Saint-Étienne he currently words for Radio France International at the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

The 62-year-old Cameroonian won two African titles with the Indomitable Lions in 1984 and 1988 as well as playing at the World Cup.