Comoros Forced To Play 5 Foot 7 Left-back In Goal In AFCON Knockout Game Vs Cameroon
Comoros have had to play a 5 ft 7 left-back in goal for their Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 clash with Cameroon after being hit with a COVID and injury crisis.
The minnows, ranked 132nd in the world, have had a total of 12 players test positive.
Their first-choice goalkeeper, Salim Ben Boina, picked up a shoulder injury vs Morocco, while Moyadh Ousseini and Ali Ahamada recorded positive results.
With all three of their goalkeepers unavailable, Comoros play the biggest game in their history with 5’7” left-back Chaker Alhadhur in goal 😳 pic.twitter.com/fJgNqXYwCo
— GOAL (@goal) January 24, 2022
Ahamada, who played in the 3-2 win over Ghana, had tested negative prior to this evening's game against the hosts but a controversial change of the rules mid-tournament from Confederation of African Football (Caf) has stipulated he is unable to play due to COVID-19 protocols.
Instead, the amended regulation states Ahamada must isolate for five days and then take a PCR test 48 hours before his team play.
As a result, the Indian Ocean islanders have had to face the five-time winners without a recognised goalkeeper.
Chaker Alhadhur, a 30-year-old left-back who debuted with his country in 2014, is in between the sticks.
Cameroon take the lead!
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 24, 2022
Chaker Alhadhur, Comoros' makeshift goalkeeper who usually plays left-back, can't stop the effort from Karl Toko Ekambi.
📱📺 Watch LIVE on @BBCiPlayer.#bbcafcon #AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/2TnMkauDwk
Donning the gloves and wearing Ousseini's goalkeeper top that had his No.3 taped over, Ajaccio defender Alhadhur was incredibly lively and took on a sweeper 'keeper type role for his team.
The defensive instincts in this Comoros goalkeeper taking over him.
— Saddick Adams (@SaddickAdams) January 24, 2022
Feels more like a centre back than GK. See where he is and how he's eager to join play
He had impressed during training and gave it his all against Cameroon, with the task made even harder when their captain Jimmy Abdou was sent off seven minutes.
However he was unable to keep out a strike from Karl Toko Ekambi which put Cameroon ahead in the 29th minute.
Comoros are making their debut in the tournament and qualified from Group C after finishing third.
They were serious underdogs for the fixture but it was Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana who had to save his side with a stunning double stop in the first half.
Topics: Africa Cup Of Nations, Cameroon
Josh Lawless