Onyango: Being named best goalkeeper in Africa a huge honour

Onyango: Being named best goalkeeper in Africa a huge honour

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango is over the moon about being named in the Confederation of African Football’s Best XI.



The Ugandan stopper is now considered one of Africa’s Finest, having been included a Best XI that also includes the likes of Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah.

“It means a lot to me and to the club as well as the national team because being recognised as one of the best in the best XI shows that I have done well for both the club and country,” Onyango told Sundowns’ official website.



“It’s an honour to be a part of this history. It gives me more motivation as a goalkeeper to work harder because you don’t know who is watching and people recognise you when you perform. It keeps me going.

I am working hard to be in the Team of the Year all the time but at the same time it is an inspiration to all the other people that you can do it, as long as you perform on the field. You must always do your best.

Onyango is also mindful of the pressure and expectations that come with being named Africa’s best goalkeeper.



“Being the best in the continent comes with a lot of pressure and responsibility,” he said.



“But there’s no way you can be at the highest level and not have any pressure. It makes me work harder and take more responsibility when I am on the field because people see me in a different light. It probably motivates the team that we’re playing against. That’s how football works. You need to always be on top of your game.



“Honours like this, they take the best out of me.”