Comoros in goalkeeper disaster, fields outfield participant in aim for AFCON match vs Cameroon

Comoros fielded an outfield participant in aim for his Africa Cup of Nations Spherical of 16 match towards host Cameroon after seeing his typical shot-stopping choices worn out amid a COVID-19 and damage disaster.

The island nation sprung an enormous shock by qualifying for the final 16 of their first look on the competitors’s closing match, and are dealing with the in-form Indomitable Lions who lit up the group stage with seven targets.

However the Coelacanths’ squad has been decimated, and Comoros will now must play an outfielder between the sticks.

Left again Chaker Alhadhur wore the gloves towards Cameroon and here is what he did to the goalkeeper jersey to ensure his No. 3 was seen:

Alhadhur allowed one aim within the first half and did not must make a single save within the opening 45 minutes. He wasn’t so prepared to make use of his arms on this ball close to the surface of the field. It was a prudent transfer by the stand-in goalkeeper:

Within the second half he was busier, starting with this cease:

After which here is how he thwarted AFCON high scorer Vincent Aboubakar with this unconventional double save:

What occurred to Comoro’s goalkeepers?

Two of the nation’s three goalkeepers, Moyadh Ousseini and Ali Ahamada, examined optimistic for COVID-19 and missed Monday’s match, whereas first-choice Salim Ben Boina is out injured. Comoros was nonetheless obliged to take the sphere so long as they’d 11 gamers out there, no matter their goalkeeper predicament.

MORE: AFCON Spherical of 16 schedule

It is a tough project since it isn’t simply the shot-stoppers who’re struggling. In whole, 12 members of the Comoros squad have been dominated out by means of COVID, as has coach Amir Abdou.

“We attempt to cope with it the very best we will,” Comoro’s common supervisor El Hadad Himidi defined. “With out the coach, some main gamers and the 2 remaining goalkeepers, the scenario is kind of tough.”

Talking forward of the Cameroon tie on Monday, Comoro’s assistant coach Jean-Daniel Padovani confirmed that an outfield participant was chosen to play in aim because the underdogs try to succeed in the quarterfinals.

MORE: AFCON 2022 high goalscorers

“We have already chosen an outfield participant who will begin as ‘keeper…It is a participant who in coaching has proven that he can play as a ‘keeper,” Padovanni instructed reporters, however didn’t verify who could be chosen. It was later revealed that it could be left again Alhadhur filling in.

Can Comoros nonetheless beat Cameroon?

Comoros soar one of many greatest surprises to date on this 12 months’s AFCON by dumping out continental giants Ghana. The Black Stars went down 3-2 in an exciting conflict to bow out of the match within the group stage, whereas their opponents clinched a spot within the final 16 as among the best third-placed groups.

MORE: AFCON 2022 closing group standings

Now one other stiff problem looms within the form of Cameroon, who gained their group unbeaten, with the winner dealing with Gambia within the final eight.

Cameroon has been fabulous, scoring in bunches throughout the three group stage behind captain Vincent Aboubakar who collected 5 of them. The hosts are one of many few African nations who really stamped their mark on the group stage, with lots of the teams ending tightly on the high.