Keeper Bounou takes long and winding road to stardom

In safe hands: Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou punches the ball away from Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo during the quarter-final. — Reuters

YASSINE Bounou has learned to be patient in his career, but the Morocco goalkeeper with a show-stopping nickname is proving he more than belongs on the big stage at this World Cup.

An unused squad member at the 2017 African Nations Cup and the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Bounou – or “Bono” as the name on his shirt reads – has played a fundamental part in helping Morocco set a new benchmark for African football in Qatar.