Wael Gomaa launched stinging criticism of Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy after the 1–0 defeat to Senegal in the AFCON 2025 semi-final, insisting the decisive shot should have been saved.
Sadio Mane’s low effort from distance beat El Shenawy and sent the Teranga Lions into the final.
Speaking on beIN Sports, the three-time AFCON winner said that former legendary keeper Essam El Hadary “used to deal with three balls like that of Senegal’s goal with great efficiency,” arguing that such crunch matches demand a goalkeeper who can make the difference. Gomaa stressed that when a team is chasing a place in the final, it needs a keeper who goes beyond routine stops and produces decisive interventions.
He added that El Shenawy “should at least have had a reaction to the shot” that found the bottom corner, hinting that the Al Ahly man was slow to move.
With Senegal now set to meet the winner of Nigeria vs Morocco in the final, Gomaa’s comments fuel debate in Egypt over whether the current number one is at the level required for the biggest African occasions.
