Bouna Coundoul Playing For Keeps Against South Africa
The Colorado Rapids’ (MLS) goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul found himself minding the nets for the Senegal National Team as they faced South Africa in the final game of the Group D play in the African Cup of Nations.
A tournament of distraction for the Senegalese team both on and off the field might be the best way to describe how Bouna moved into the first team keeper position. Following Senegal’s 3-1 loss to Angola in group play on Monday, coach Henry Kasperczak, shocked the entire continent, resigning as the head coach. Senegal moved on in Group D play with Assistant Coach Lamine Ndiaye at the helm.
With the resignation of Kasperczak and the placing of Ndiaye in the head coach position, Senegal hoped to have a chance of recovering against South Africa and making it into the next round.
Buona’s move into the first team keeper position came as acting head coach Ndiaye dropped first team goalkeeper Tony Sylva from the starting roster after Sylva broke camp curfew and spent an unauthorized night out on the town earlier in the week.
Coundoul in his first starting role on the Senegal National side started off a bit rough but did not disappoint his teammates and coaches. South Africa struck first in the 14th minute as Modise from the left, swung in a great cross to Van Heerden at the far post to go 1-0 up. A quality goal that beat Bouna Coundoul cleanly.
Buona, not to be beaten again, proved it was “Bouna Time!” At the 25th minute South Africa’s Sibusiso Zuma struck a grounder to the near post that Coundoul dove full length to stop. Zuma nearly struck again in the 62nd minute as he forced a point-blank save from goalkeeper Bouna after Zuma was let in by a defensive fumble inside the Senegal area. An awesome reaction save!
In the 77th minute s ubstitute Lerato Chabangu let fly a powerful shot from distance which somehow Buona pushed away for a corner. Bouna repeated the heroics second later when he pushed away another South African shot at goal. Coundoul made a series of key saves in the second half to keep the lively South Africans at bay.
South Africa and Senegal had needed a win to retain slim hopes of reaching the last eight but finished with just two points apiece following a 1-1 draw in Kumasi.
It is clear that Buona Coundoul has made an impact on this Senegal National Team. We look forward to seeing him on the Senegal National side many more times in the years to come.
Has Buona raised his stock and drawn some looks from European Clubs after his performance in Ghana? Coundoul was the only MLS player to be represented in the African Cup of Nations. A great start for this young keeper from the Bronx, New York!
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Peter Mastrogiovanni
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