The top goalkeeper news stories from January 11th to January 18th 2026.
Edouard Mendy saves penalty in crazy AFCON final
Not for the first time in his career, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy saved a cheeky panenka attempt from the penalty spot by Morocco's Brahim Diaz. Around 17 minutes passed between Morocco being awarded a penalty, deep into stoppage time, due to Senegal's manager briefly pulling his team off the pitch in protest, and Diaz beginning his run-up.
he Real Madrid forward slowed as he approached the ball and chipped it down the middle of the goal, but Edouard Mendy didn't move, comfortably caught it, and the game went to extra time with Senegal emerging victorious.
In a rather bizarre final, Morocco’s ball boys and, as ESPN put it, ‘even an official’ also repeatedly tried to take Mendy's towel (for drying his gloves) from his net. Senegal’s reserve goalkeeper, Yehvann Diouf, ended up stationed near the goal to protect the towel. ESPN described Diouf being dragged ‘across the turf,’ and even having to 'fend off' Morocco winger Ismael Saibari as he attempted to get the towel back to his teammate.
Stoke sign Gavin Bazunu on loan
Southampton goalkeeper, Gavin Bazunu, has been loaned out to promotion candidates Stoke City who are currently only two points off the Championship Play Offs. Stoke made a move for the 23-year-old after first-choice goalkeeper Viktor Johansson had surgery on a long-term shoulder injury. Bazunu helped Southampton to promotion from the Championship in 2023/24, but overall has somewhat failed to make a definitive mark on the number one spot at the club in the way he would have hoped over the last few years. The south coast club brought in Israel goalkeeper Daniel Peretz on loan from Bayern Munich earlier in the window.
Bazunu has made 19 appearances for Southampton this season and made his Stoke debut this weekend, marking the occasion with a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw with Queens Park Rangers.
Yassine Bounou shines in Morocco
Last Wednesday night, Morocco faced Nigeria in their AFCON semi-final. The game was was ultimately rather uneventful and ended 0-0 after 90 minutes. The score remained the same after extra time, meaning penalties were on the horizon. Yassine Bounou, currently of Al Hilal, proved himself in shootouts at the last World Cup and he did it again in this AFCON one as he denied Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi from the spot to send his country to their first AFCON final in 22 years.
Robert Sanchez names his best goalkeeper ever
Chelsea goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, recently named his pick for the best goalkeeper of all time - and it’s caused a stir online. There are many fantastic goalkeepers to have played the game over the years, from Yashin to Buffon to Neuer, but the Spaniard chose one of the greatest shot stoppers in Premier League history, David De Gea, as his best to ever stand between the sticks.
Bizarre moment in U23 Asian Cup
On Friday, Japan faced Jordan in the Quarter-Final of the U23 Asian Cup with the game going to penalties. Jordan goalkeeper, Abdel Rahman Al Talalga, did well to save one of the penalties he faced but he was so consumed in celebrating his brilliance that the ball spun into the back of the net after denying the initial effort. A truly bizarre moment.
