Home / Sports / Morocco's Bono: The Penalty King
Morocco's Bono: The Penalty King
10 Jul
Summary
- Bounou saved Mbappé's penalty, extending his remarkable record.
- He has saved four of nine penalties faced in World Cups.
- Former coach cited Bounou's intimidating presence as key.
Yassine Bounou, Morocco's renowned goalkeeper, has added another high-profile name, Kylian Mbappé, to his list of penalty victims. During a recent World Cup quarterfinal, Bounou read Mbappé's attempt perfectly, diving the correct way to make a crucial save. This impressive feat extends Bounou's remarkable World Cup record.
Across his World Cup appearances, Bounou has faced nine penalties, including those in shootouts. He has successfully saved four, with three shots narrowly missing the goal, and only two penalties have found the back of the net against him. The former Sevilla goalkeeping coach, José Luis Silva, once explained that Bounou's intimidating presence on the field is a significant factor in his success, often unnerving the players attempting the penalty kicks.
Bono's heroics were particularly evident in a previous round-of-16 match, where he made two crucial saves during a shootout against Spain. This performance was instrumental in securing Morocco's historic advancement to the quarterfinals for the first time.
