Featured Image Credit: Image: BBC
Topics: Africa Cup Of Nations, Cameroon
Josh Lawless
Topics: Africa Cup Of Nations, Cameroon
Chaker Alhadhur produced an incredible goalkeeping display in defeat for Comoros after the left-back filled in between the sticks vs Cameroon.
With a COVID and injury crisis, as well as a harsh ruling from the CAF, Comoros did not have a recognised goalkeeper against the hosts in their round of 16 clash.
They lost 2-1 in what was a spirited performance with 10 men and Alhadhur, who is just 5ft 7 and plays for Ajaccio in France, was genuinely brilliant.
He was almost playing as a sweeper 'keeper at times with how his starting position was and he made a number of fine saves.
And two came in quick succession when he pulled off an outrageous double save that David De Gea would have been proud of in the second half.
First he made an unorthodox save to thwart tournament top scorer Vincent Aboubakar and then reacted to make another strong stop on the rebound with his hands.
Alhadhur, who made his debut for the 132nd ranked side in 2014, had his No.3 taped over the number worn by goalkeeper Moyadh Ousseini, who tested positive for COVID.
The 30-year-old also pulled off another fantastic reflex save with his foot to keep out a header from Aboubakar.
The former Porto striker did end up scoring past Alhadhur to bring his AFCON goals tally to six for the tournament, but the stand-in shotstopper made a lot of new fans this evening.
And so too did Comoros on the whole in their first ever AFCON. Andre Onana in the opposite goal had to produce heroics and he was beaten by a thunderous 30-yard free-kick from former Oldham Athletic midfielder Youssouf M'Changama.
Comoros had a total of 12 players test positive, while first-choice goalkeeper Salim Ben Boina injured his shoulder vs Morocco.
Ali Ahamada, the goalkeeper who played in the 3-2 win over Ghana, had recorded a negative result but CAF (Confederation of African Football) changed the rulings on COVID-19 protocols.