Bouna Coundoul Faces Competition for Senegal’s Starting Goalkeeper Spot
Bouna Coundoul, the long-time starting goalkeeper for Senegal’s Lions of Teranga, is now facing stiff competition for the starting spot in the national team. After being a regular under Alain Giresse, Coundoul, who currently plays for Platinum Stars in South Africa, will no longer have a guaranteed place in the starting lineup.
This shift in goalkeeping duties was made clear by Tony Sylva, the new goalkeeping coach for Senegal. Sylva, a former Lions goalkeeper, emphasized that the competition for the number one spot is now wide open: “There are no longer any starters because we are starting from scratch. Now it will be up to the coach to choose who will start,” he stated in an interview with the local press.
As a result, Coundoul is expected to miss out on the starting role against Ghana this Saturday and in the match against Le Havre on Tuesday. With the door now open for competition, Pape Demba Camara (Sochaux) and Abdoulaye Diallo (Le Havre) will be given the opportunity to impress and stake their claim for the starting position.
For Coundoul, the pressure is on as the race for the top goalkeeper spot intensifies, and his future as Senegal’s first-choice keeper now depends on his performances in training and future international fixtures.
