Matasi reveals trick behind famous Sadio Mane penalty save at AFCON
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 17.02.26. | 19:38
Matasi grabbed headlines in 2019 when he saved Mane’s first-half penalty in Kenya’s final Group C clash against the Senegal national football team
Former Harambee Stars goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has opened up on the trick he used to deny Sadio Mane from the penalty spot during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Egypt.
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Matasi grabbed headlines in 2019 when he saved Mane’s first-half penalty in Kenya’s final Group C clash against the Senegal national football team.
Mane had just won the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool and stepped up as favourite to convert, but the Kenyan shot-stopper stood firm to produce one of the tournament’s memorable moments.
Although Matasi denied the first attempt, Mane later converted from a second spot-kick as Senegal beat Kenya 3-0 at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo, eliminating Sébastien Migné's side from the competition.
Speaking to Mozzart Sport, the former Tusker FC custodian explained how patience proved decisive on that cold night.
“I stood there and waited for his move. It was a bit tense, but I waited till the last minute, then made my final move,” said Matasi.
He described the save as historic, noting that the previous penalty save at AFCON had come during the 2015 edition.
“It was also a historic moment since I set a new record because if you look at the AFCON statistics, the last penalty was saved during the 2015 edition, then I saved Mane’s penalty. It was a good show, and it gives me morale,” he added in a previous interview.
Matasi says the moment remains etched in his memory and continues to define his career.
“Everyone will now be saying, ‘Hey, this is the keeper who saved the penalty from Mane.’ I feel proud to have achieved that, saving the penalty,” he said.
Despite the heroic stop, Kenya bowed out that night. Matasi has since featured for Kenya Police FC and now turns out for Kakamega Homeboyz, where he was suspended for 90 days for alleged match manipulation back in March 2025.
Since that 2019 appearance, Harambee Stars are yet to qualify for another AFCON tournament, making Matasi’s save one of the enduring highlights of Kenya’s recent continental history.