Chelsea Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy becomes first African keeper reaching Champions League final

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. | Getty Images |

Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who has been the core and extra confident debut season, pundits say he is on the move write his name into football history in Saturday’s Champions League final against Manchester City.

The Senegal goalkeeper could become the first African goalkeeper to win the European title in the Champions League era, with Zimbabwe’s Bruce Grobbelaar winning the European Cup in 1984 with Liverpool.

The clash between the English top League elites at Porto’s Estadio do Dragao will be the 66th final of the European masterpiece tournament.

It’s an exception considering the sizeable contribution made by African players, and those of African origin, during the history of the competition.

Mendy has only 8 clean sheets out of 11 Champions League fixtures this season to go with his 16 blanks in the Premier League.

African stoppers are few and far between in major European finals or even in European leagues. The move for Thomas Tuchel naming Mendy is an honour to Africa.

Senegal’s Edouard Mendy will become Africa’s first goalkeeper to win a Champions League title, in its current form, if Chelsea beat Manchester  City. He will be the first African Keeper with more Clean sheets in a top competition. He will also be the first African goalkeeper to reach the champions league finals.

As far back as 37 years ago, Zimbabwe goalkeeper Grobbelaar became the first African player to feature in a European Cup final, with the Liverpool stopper powerful as the Reds defeated AS Roma on penalties in 1984.