Few days before making their debut to Africa’s most prestigious football competition, Comoros has defied all possible odds to secure what many would have deemed as an impossible pathway for the small island to next year’s TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations.
With a population of less than a million, Comoros are gearing themselves up to re-writing the African football history books by becoming the smallest country to ever compete in the tournament, following Cape Verde’s impressive 2013 debut that saw them being eliminated in the quarter-finals by Ghana.
The Coelacanths sent shockwaves across the continent when they held a more fancied Togo to a 0-0 draw, following an unforeseen 1-0 away victory in their opening rounds of qualifiers in a group that also involved Kenya as well as eventual group winners Egypt.
Even though they faced an even tougher battle in the opening stages, having been drawn in a difficult Group C that boasts two previous AFCON champions in Morocco and Ghana, as well as 2012 quarter-finalists Gabon, The Coelacanths comfortably hold the underdogs' title and will be looking at causing another major upset in Cameroon next year.
Having only officially joined CAF in 2003, the islanders are very much considered a young football nation, with the TotalEnergies AFCON set to be their first major competition.
While qualification to Africa’s most prestigious tournament is a remarkable first-time achievement for the Islanders, coach Amir Abdou’s side is to be underestimated at one’s own peril.
Highly spirited players such as Switzerland based, Rafidine Abdullah as well as Faiz Selemani who scored the solitary goal against Togo that buoyed Comoros’ chances of qualifying are some of the key players that will be looking at making a name for themselves in Cameroon.
Abdou will also be heavily relying on his captain, Mohamed Ben Nabouhane’s leadership qualities on the field to spur his side in what again looks like another impossible feat to achieve.
“Ben,” as the skipper is affectionately known, captains his side with a confidence-boosting accolade to his name, having scored the only goal in his country’s first win in a competitive international match against Botswana during the preliminary AFCON qualifier stages.
Comoros’ first assignment on January 10 sees them taking on a highly confident Gabon, who come into the tournament with an impressive run in the qualifiers where they finished runners up to Gambia.
They then face Africa’s second-best side in Morocco on 14 January before concluding their Group C assignment with a clash against the Black Stars of Ghana on 18 January.
Source: BBC Africa