Who is Ronwen Williams’ only rival for Afcon Golden Glove?

The DStv Premiership looks set to produce the Golden Glove winner at this 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals. Statistics favour Ronwen Williams and his Chippa United counterpart, Stanley Nwabali. The Mamelodi Sundowns keeper has kept four clean sheets at the continental tournament in Ivory Coast just like the Nigerian.

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How Williams’ heroics put him at par with Chippa United counterpart

Williams showed his latest heroics on Saturday when he kept a clean sheet after 120 minutes of extra-time. Not only did Mzansi’s number one produce stupendous saves in open play, but also during the ultimate post-match penalties. The 30-year-old saved a record four penalties as Bafana Bafana edged Cape Verde 2-1 in the quarter-final match. The Confederation of African Football website says no other keeper has stopped four straight post-match spot-kicks at Afcon.

Williams’ statistics compared to those of Nwabali

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Before the last-eight game, the former SuperSport United custodian had kept clean sheets, including in the 2-0 win over Morocco in a round-of-16 contest. Previously, Williams ensured a goalless draw with Tunisia, days after Bafana Bafana’s impressive 4-0 win over Namibia. South Africa had started the tournament with a 2-0 loss to Mali. In the other camp, Nwabali, too, had a slow start with the Super Eagles.

How has the Chippa United keeper fared?

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Like Williams, Nwabali has also not conceded in four consecutive matches at the ongoing Afcon finals. The Nigerian’s only blemish occurred when he allowed Equatorial Guinea to score in a one-draw. The Chilli Boys’ trusted pair of hands have prevented Angola, Cameroon, Guinea Bissau and Ivory Coast from scoring. The Super Eagles beat the Palancas Negras 1-0 on Friday in a quarterfinal duel to reach the semifinals. The previous games saw the Super Eagles defeat the Indomitable Lions 2-0 and the Djurtus and the Elephants by 1-0 margins.

ALSO READ: Ronwen Williams heroics save Bafana against brave Cape Verde

All set for the Afcon semifinal meeting

Williams and Nwabali will come face-to-face on Wednesday when their respective teams meet in the semifinals. Whoever keeps another clean sheet is certain to win the Golden Glove. The other last-four game will see Ivory Coast taking on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Ivorians stunned Mali 2-1 in an early kick-off on Saturday, whereas the Leopards thumped Guinea 3-1 on Friday in another quarterfinal battle. The DRC keeper Lionel Mpasi has one clean sheet in five games, just like his Ivorian counterpart Yahia Fofana.

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