Sports

Morocco’s Yassine Bounou enters rich-list of Top 10 highest-paid goalkeepers

Published

2 months ago

September 24, 2024

Morocco’s international goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, has entered the rich-list of the Top 10 highest-paid goalkeepers in the world.

In the list released by Sports Boom, Bounou who now plies his trade with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, reportedly earns about $210,462.50 per week, totalling around $11 million annually.

The Atlas Lions safe hands who swapped Spain for the Saudi Pro League, has captured international attention by ranking eighth among the world’s highest-paid goalkeepers.

The list of the top ten highest-paid goalkeepers features players from the German, Spanish, French, and Saudi leagues with the Spanish league leading with three of the top earners, while the German, French, and Saudi leagues each contribute two goalkeepers to the elite group.

Leading the rankings is Manuel Neuer, the German goalkeeper for Bayern Munich, who earns an impressive weekly salary of about $442,971.25, totaling approximately $23 million per year.

Bounou shares his place in the list with another Saudi Pro League goalkeeper, Senegalese Edouard Mendy of Al-Ahli, who ranks sixth overall with a weekly salary of about $231,508.75 and an annual total of around $12 million.

Since becoming a full international in 2013, Bounou has represented Morocco at two FIFA World Cups and four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, having previously played for the under-23 team at the 2012 Olympics.

In November 2022, he was included in Morocco’s 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar and made two crucial saves during the round of 16 penalty shoot-out against Spain, helping Morocco advance to the quarter-finals for the first time in history, before going on to defeat Portugal 1–0, becoming the first African team to reach the semi-finals.

Related Topics:Featured Football Morocco Rich-List.Yassine Bounou

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Sports

Wafcon 2024 draw throws up interesting pairings

Published

19 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The draw for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) holding in Morocco from July 5 to 26 next year which was held on Friday, threw up some interesting match-ups to look forward to as hosts Morocco found themselves in what has been described as the group of death.

The Atlas Lionesses will have to contend with Zambia, DR Congo and Senegal in Group A, while Group B has record 11-time continental champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria slugging it out with Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana, just as current defending champions, Banyana Banyana of South Africa will do battle with Ghana, Mali and Tanzania in Group C.

The top two sides in each group will progress to the quarter-finals, alongside the two best third-placed finishers.

Though qualification for the 2024 Wafcon was completed in December last year, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was forced to push the finals into 2025 because of international football’s congested calendar, which included the participation of Nigeria and Zambia at the Olympics.

Morocco also staged the 2022 edition of Wafcon, ending as runners-up, and former international Fatiha Laassiri believes home support will provide “a real advantage” next year.

Wafcon 2024 group draw with world ranking in brackets:

Group A: Morocco (hosts, 59), Zambia (62), Senegal (83), DR Congo (102).

Group B: Nigeria (36), Tunisia (78), Algeria (84), Botswana (153).

Group C: South Africa (holders, 50), Ghana (66), Mali (81), Tanzania (145).

Sports

Ghanaian winger Fatawu out for season with ACL injury

Published

3 days ago

November 21, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana and Leicester City winger, Abdul Fatawu, has been ruled out of the rest of the EPL season after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury during Ghana’s 1-1 draw with Angola in a 2025 AFCON match during the international break.

Leicester coach, Steve Cooper, who announced the news on Thursday, said the 20-year-old enterprising player suffered a “serious” knee injury which will see him out for the rest of the season.

“It’s not good, it’s a serious injury,” Cooper said ahead of his side’s home tie against Chelsea on Saturday.

“He’s had an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury that is going to rule him out for the rest of the season. It’s a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is.

“Albeit, it can be quite common in sport and in particular football, but it’s still a serious injury. For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.

“He’s obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.

“It’s only a pause and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case,” the gaffer said.

Fatawu has been a key player for the Foxes, helping them gain promotion last season and has played 11 times for them in the league during the present campaign, scoring two goals.