AFCON 2021 Review: The Mystery Behind Gabaski’s Penalty Heroics Revealed

By Akinwale Kasali

The Teranga Lions of Senegal are still basking in the euphoria of their historic African Cup of Nations triumph. The Senegalese President, Macky Fall,  declared Monday, 7th February, 2022, a National Public Holiday.

Though, the Senegalese defeated the Pharaohs of Egypt in the tense penalty shootouts, but the heroics of Egyptian Second Choice Goalkeeper, Mohammed Abou Qotb Gabal Gabaski, from the Round of 16  till the final can never be underestimated or neglected.

The Zamalek Football Club of Egypt Shot Stopper was behind first choice goalkeeper, Mohammed El Shanewy, but the injury sustained by El Shanewy in the Round of 16 clash against the Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire was the turning point for Gabaski.

He made brilliant saves in the one-sided match dominated by the West African country against Egypt, and saved Eric Bailley Spot kick during the shootout to send the North African country into the Quarter Finals.

The Quarter Final match was a North African affair and Gabaski remained between the sticks due to the injury sustained by El Shanewy, and never disappointed, helping his team triumph over the Atlas Lions of Morocco with a 2-1 score line.

Gabaski’s heroics came into play in Egypt’s Semi Final clash against host, the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

After 120 minutes of action with both team remaining square, penalty kicks was the decider for the match.

The confidence in Gabaski grew as both teams were heading for the spot kicks. He held closely to himself his bottle of water.

He was able to save three of Cameroon’s spot kicks. This brought about rumours and speculations that Gabaski was involved in voodoo or ‘Juju’ in local parlance.

It was surprising how he could have made the heroic saves, denying the host a place in the final.

Gabaski never rested on his oars. In the finals, he saved a seventh minute spot kick of Sadio Mane and went ahead to make some crucial saves that sent the game into extra time and eventually spot kicks.

Sadly, he was unable to repeat the heroics in his two previous penalty shootouts, but he was able to save Boubakar Sarr penalty and went to the right direction for remaining four penalty kicks, while his teammates lose two kicks that gave the Teranga Lions their first AFCON trophy.

Many had wondered how Gabaski was able to guess right the directions the penalties was played.

Here is the secret.

Gabaski forgot his bottle of water on the pitch after the loss to Senegal. A journalist at the Olembe Stadium, Yaounde, Cameroon Capital picked up the bottle and discovered that it was not just a bottle of water, printed on the bottle is the list of Senegal players and the angles they have played their last 10  penalty kicks.

This has helped Gabaski from the Round of 16 till the final to easily know where to dive and can easily catch the penalty.

Soccer analysts and enthusiasts has described the heroics of Gabaski as outstanding but this revelation brought about mixed feelings.

Could this be described as cheating? Could this be the reason why Egypt has always preferred to go into penalties by absorbing pressures and defending all through the knock out stages of the tournament because they knew Gabaski has the water bottle in his hands to save them?

Paul Ashamoye, a Sports Journalist said that Gabaski’s heroics irrespective of the  manner he was able to save the spot kicks shows that he did his assignment right and was equal to the task.

“He hasn’t cheated in anyway, he has just showed that in every game you need to be tactically sound, know your opponents strength and weakness, be calculative, determined and focused.

“Gabaski did his home work right and it laid off. This can’t be described as cheating. Why do coaches and players watch video clips of their opponents, it is basically for them to have a tactics and know what to do on the pitch. Gabaski has not in anyway done anything wrong but should be praised and applauded”, Ashamoye concluded.