All You Need to Know about Comoros; the New Name in African Football
The Coelacanths are making their first-ever appearance at the 2021 CAF Africa Nations cup after defying all possible odds- a dream accomplishment! How did it happen?
The geography of Comoros
Comoros is a small island country around the Indian Ocean with a population of less than a million. It has a total land area of about 1861 km2. Comoros shares a maritime border with four different countries. Tanzania to the northwest, Seychelles to the northeast, Mozambique to the west, and Madagascar and Mayotte to the southeast. The country formally speaks three languages, Comorian, French, and Arabic.
Comoros Journey to AFCON 2021
Although Comoros officially joined CAF in 2003 and became a FIFA member in 2005, they did not make it to the biennial Africa showpiece until 2021 after several attempts.
Their first attempt was the qualification for the 2010 AFCON, where they lost against Madagascar in the preliminary round with 2 goals to 10 on aggregate. They played for qualifiers in consecutive editions but did not earn an AFCON qualification until the historic qualification in 2021.
They defied all odds and send, a shocking wave to the world, after winning a historic qualification from a qualifiers group stage that involves Togo, Kenya, and the group winners, Egypt.
No one would have thought that the “seemingly” unknown country would earn nine points in the group that has Kenya, Togo, and Egypt.
The beautiful thing is that they did not qualify based on football mathematics or miracle. They qualified like the emerging star they are, on merit. The qualification was a resounding success. They qualified for the championship after Togo draw with one game to go.
The victory against Togo, the 2013 quarterfinalist, in Lomé, in their first qualifying game was a shock. They drew Egypt at Moroni, Comoros, in their second qualifying game. They continue the AFCON qualifiers, playing a 1-1 draw against Kenya at Kasarani, Kenya, before having a famous victory against them (2-1) at the Malouzini stadium, Moroni.
In their fifth game, Comoros drew Togo 0-0 at home to earn the ticket to Cameroon. However, they suffered a heavy defeat in their last AFCON qualifying game against Egypt (4-0) at the Cairo international stadium, Cairo. Even though Kenya beat Togo 2-1 at the other game, it does not matter, because Comoros Afcon qualification was certain before the last game.
The standing of Comoros in the AFCON 2021 qualifiers
They were second in the group with 9 points behind Egypt, 12 points. They had -2 goal difference. They recorded two wins, three draws, and one loss. Kenya, third with 7 points and Togo, fourth with 2 points.
The Coelacanths in AFCON 2021
The Coelacanths will face a much tougher challenge in the opening stages of the CAF Africa Nations cup. They are paired in a “group of death.” A group that includes two AFCON champions, Morocco and Ghana, ranked 2nd and 8th in Africa respectively in the latest FIFA ranking. Comoros are ranked 38 in Africa.
The group also includes Gabon, the 2012 quarterfinalist, ranked 18 in Africa. They really earned the title of the “underdog” team. However, underrate them at your own peril.
They will be aiming to cause another major upset when the tournament starts in January. They will make their debut in AFCON against Gabon in the group stage on January 10, 2022, at Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium, Yaoundé. Four days later take on Morocco before a clash with Ghana on January 18 at the Roumdje Adija stadium at Garoua.
Before that, they will play pre-Afcon games against the Ivory Coast and Malawi, to prepare for the tournament as announced by the Comoros Football Federation.
Comoros full squad for AFCON 2021
The Coelacanths have really made remarkable progress over the years under coach, Amir Abdou. Players like Selemani, M’Changama and Mattoir that were instrumental in securing the AFCON ticket were named.
Most of the players in the 26-man Comoros Afcon squad play in the French league. Besides, the majority of the players (22) were born in France. Three were born in Mayotte, and only one player in the squad was born in the Comoros, Abdallah Alli Mohamed, FC Stade, Lausanne-Ouchy.
Goalkeepers: Salim Ben Boina (Endoume, France), Ali Ahamada (SK Brann Bergen, Norway), Moyadh Ousseni (Frejus, France)
Defenders: Nadim Abdou (FC Marigues, France), Benjaloud Youssouf (La Berrichonne De Chatauroux, France), Abdallah Ali Mohamed (US Avranches, France), Kassim Mdahoma (US Avranches, France), Younn Zahary (Cholet, France), Chaker Alhadhur (AC Ajaccio, France), Mohamed Youssouf (AC Ajaccio, France), Kassim Abdallah (Marignane Cignac, France)
Midfielders: Fouhad Bachirou (Omonia Nicosie, Cyprus), Youssouf M’Changama (EA Guingamp, France), Yacine Bourhane (Go Ahead Eagles, Netherlands), Nakibou Aboubakari (FC Sete 34, France), Iyad Mohamed (AJ Auxerre, France), Rafidine Abdullah (FCS Luasanne, Switzerland)
Forwards: Faiz Selemani (Kortijk, Belgium), Mohamed El Fardou (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Nasser Chamed (Gaz Metan Medias, Romania), Ahmed Mogni (FC Annecy, France), Faiz Mattoir (Cholet, France), Ali M’Madi (SAS Epinal, France), Said Bakari (RKC Waalwijk,Netherlands), Moussa Djoumoi (AS Sait-Priest, France), Mohamed M’Changama (FC Nouadhibou, Mauritania)
Expectations at Afcon 2021
They will be aiming to make history in the competition by, at least, qualifying from the group and probably reaching the quarter-finals. A similar feat was achieved by Cape Verde when they make their debut in 2013.
Getting to the finals of the competition takes more than will and determination. Experience too is essential, which the team obviously does not have.
A second-round or quarter-final finish is a remarkable feat. It can even open doors for some players to play in the EPL, Serie A or LaLiga.
Even if they are unable to move past the group stage, they have done the impossible. By qualifying for the tournament in a remarkable way, and it will be in the history book forever.
