Lawrence Ati-Zigi #1

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Ati-Zigi never really wanted to be a keeper. “My friends made me, and I have lived with it,” he said. “I started playing football at the age of six as an outfield player. But one day we didn’t have a keeper, so I went between the posts, and that was it.” It goes without saying that the switch paid off. He has had a very solid national team career, representing his country at three Afcons (2019, 2021, 2023) and being first-choice at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He stands as the most experienced keeper in the squad this summer, having made his debut in 2018, seven years before the current number one, Benjamin Asare. He has always been a fan of drawing and painting, which helps him stay cool on the pitch. "Errors in football don't upset me," he said. "The most important thing is to keep calm. And my hobby fits very well with that. I love drawing everything that comes into my mind, including lots of fun things."

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