Will Comoros have a goalkeeper? Why an outfield player might have to play in goal vs Cameroon in Afcon 2022

Comoros’ fairytale run at the Africa Cup of Nations looks set to come to a brutal end as they face hosts Cameroon without a recognised goalkeeper.

Expectations on the country were low ahead of their first ever appearance at an Afcon finals. Comoros is comprised of three islands in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa with an overall population of less than 900,000, making it the second-smallest country at the competition behind Cape Verde.

However, despite being drawn into a tricky group alongside two of the continent’s footballing titans Ghana and Morocco as well as a talented Gabon side, Comoros remarkably progressed to the knockout stages thanks to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Ghana in their final group match.

The reward for Amir Abdou’s overachieving squad was a last-16 meeting with host nation and tournament favourites Cameroon in Yaounde.

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Comoros were always going to be overwhelming underdogs against Cameroon, given the hosts impressed during the group stage and have a remarkable unbeaten record in home competitive matches which stretches all the way back to 1973.

However, their hopes of inflicting another remarkable defeat on a major nation appear to have been dashed as they will face the tournament’s most prolific team and top-scoring individual Vincent Aboubakar with an outfield player in goal.

First-choice goalkeeper Salim Ben Boina is unavailable due to a shoulder injury picked up in the group stage, while backups Moyadh Ousseini and Ali Ahamada were among 12 players and staff members who tested positive for Covid on Saturday. Manager Abdou will also have to miss the game due to a positive test.

Comoros had hoped to receive clearance to field Ahamada after he subsequently tested negative for the virus on Monday morning but tournament rules dictate that all players that test positive must isolate for a period of five days before playing again.

Africa Cup of Nations Covid rules

“If the result of the Covid-19 PCR test of any player is positive, such player will not be authorized to go to the stadium or participate in the applicable match.

“A team will be required to play a match if they have a minimum of 11 players available who have tested negative. In the event of the absence of a goalkeeper, another player from the team must replace the goalkeeper, provided the total number of available players is at least eleven.

“A team that does not have a minimum of 11 players available will be considered to have lost the match 0-2.

“In exceptional cases, the Organizing Committee of the Africa Cup of Nations will take the appropriate decision.”

“We will do everything in our power to find a solution,” general manager El Hadad Himidi said. “It’s the coach and the only fit goalkeepers, so the situation is really complicated.”

Assistant manager Daniel Padovanni added: “We’ve already chosen an outfield player who will start as a keeper. It’s a player who in training has shown that he can play as a keeper.”

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According to the Confederation of African Football’s [CAF] Covid rules, teams are required to play a match so long as they have a minimum of 11 players available who have tested negative for the virus and that applies to Comoros.

As well as bemoaning their misfortune, Comoros will rue their decision to only select three goalkeepers in their 28-man squad. Their opponents Cameroon were one of the 13 countries who took the wise decision of allocating four slots in their squad to goalkeepers.

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