AFCON
Super Eagles-attired like AFCON debutants, Comoros unveil squad
With 16 days to go before the kick-off to Africa’s most prestigious tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021, Green and white attired debutants Comoros have officially announced their 26-man squad to represent the nation, as the islanders prepare to go into camp for their maiden AFCON appearance.
Under the stewardship of coach Amir Abdou, The Coelacanths who are currently ranked 38th on the continent did the unimaginable by securing a ticket to Cameroon ahead of their more fancied group opponents and go into the tournament as one the underdogs in the 24-nation showpiece.
Drawn in a fierce Group C that consists of two previous African champions in Morocco and Ghana as well as Gabon, coach Abdou’s side will have to all to do as they prepare to etch their names in the African football history books, starting with a clash against The Panthers of Gabon on 10 January.
Abdou has kept a majority of the squad that secured the nation’s spot in Cameroon, with key players such as Faiz Selemani, who’s solitary goal against Togo that buoyed the islanders’ qualification chances, set to lead the attack.
With all eyes set on their more fancied Group C opponents, Comoros head to Cameroon with less pressure but their impressive performance in the qualifiers have certainly raised a certain level of expectation in what promises to be an exciting debut for them.
Striking a fine balance between youth and experience, young defenders such as Kassim M’Dahoma who currently plies his trade in France with Avranches will be looking to feed off the experience of the more seasoned campaigners such as captain Nadjim Abdou who also plays his football in France for Martigues.
Comoros Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Salim Ben Boina (Endoume, France), Ali Ahamada (SK Brann Bergen, Norway), Moyadh Ousseni (Frejus, France)
Defenders: Nadim Abdou (FC Marigues, France), Benjaloud Youssouf (La Berrichonne De Chatauroux, France), Abdallah Ali Mohamed (US Avranches, France), Kassim Mdahoma (US Avranches, France), Younn Zahary (Cholet, France), Chaker Alhadhur (AC Ajaccio, France), Mohamed Youssouf (AC Ajaccio, France), Kassim Abdallah (Marignane Cignac, France)
Midfielders: Fouhad Bachirou (Omonia Nicosie, Cyprus), Youssouf M’Changama (EA Guingamp, France), Yacine Bourhane (Go Ahead Eagles, Netherlands), Nakibou Aboubakari (FC Sete 34, France), Iyad Mohamed (AJ Auxerre, France), Rafidine Abdullah (FCS Luasanne, Switzerland)
Forwards: Faiz Selemani (Kortijk, Belgium), Mohamed El Fardou (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Nasser Chamed (Gaz Metan Medias, Romania), Ahmed Mogni (FC Annecy, France), Faiz Mattoir (Cholet, France), Ali M’Madi (SAS Epinal, France), Said Bakari (RKC Waalwijk,Netherlands), Moussa Djoumoi (AS Sait-Priest, France), Mohamed M’Changama (FC Nouadhibou, Mauritania)
AFCON
Libya sacks coach ahead of AFCON qualifying back-to-back matches with Nigeria
The Libyan Football Federation (LFF) has sacked its Serbian coach, Milutin Sredojević who is popularly known as Micho.
This is coming ahead of Libya’s back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations clashes with Nigeria next month.
Paradoxically, Sports Village Square gathered that the coach’s contract was only recently renewed for six months before the axe fell on the Serbian.
His sack was precipitated by the results obtained in their teo matches of the AFCON qualifiers.
Libya drew 1-1 with Rwanda at home and lost 2-1 away to Benin Republic despite beig a goal up at half time.
The Libyan side, Mediterranean Knights are due to play against the Nigeria Super Eagles in Uyo on 6 October while the return leg holds on 14 October at the 11 July Stadium in Tripoli.
According to information Sports Village Square gathered from Tripoli, the Mediterranean Knights’ coach, Micho led the Libyan national team to win nine matches since taking over in October of last year, he failed to build a strong team due to his poor choices.
He also took a risk with the footballers chosen in the AFCON qualifiers, and the result was shocking to the Libyan sports audience.
According to sources close to the Libyan Football Federation, there is a strong tendency to sign a national coach to lead the Libyan team during the remaining qualifiers for the African Cup of Nations.
AFCON
CAF president blasts Ghana, others over stadium ban
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has lashed out at Ghana and some other African countries whose home grounds were recently banned from hosting CAF matches owing to inadequate facilities. He made the remarks in Nairobi, Kenya during a press conference,
After the MatchDay 2 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, CAF ruled Ghana’s Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi as being inadequate to host international matches. Being the only approved ground in the country, Ghana will now look towards either Cote d’Ivoire or Togo for their remaining home matches of the Afcon qualifiers.
Other African countries without approved home grounds are: Djibouti, Chad, Niger, Eritrea, Gabon, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, São Tomé and Burundi.
Motsepe voiced his frustration over the recurring issue of nations being unable to host home games.
“Nothing frustrates me more than a national team or club side having to play home matches outside,” he stated.
He stressed the significance of playing in front of home fans, adding, “You can’t grow football if the national teams or club sides aren’t playing in front of their home fans.”
Motsepe reiterated CAF’s commitment to working with countries to ensure they have at least one suitable stadium to host international fixtures.
“Our conversations in every country are to make sure there is at least one stadium capable of hosting a CAF category C game,” he emphasized.
AFCON
Present and Past as CAF Coaches Symposium unites Rohr, Peseiro and Eguavoen
The on-going CAF AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Coaches Symposium in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire has brought together, the last three coaches that handled the Nigeria national football team.
Gernot Rohr, Jose Peseiro and Austin Eguavoen are part of the the elite coaches currently gathered in Abidjan.
Gernot Rohr whose tenure of 5 years and 55 matches is the longest ever by any coach in Nigeria, is currently handling Nigeria’s Africa Cupof Nations and World Cup qualifying rivals, Benin Republic. He was succeeded in the interim by Austin Eguavoen who is currently having another interim stint.
Peseiro left his position after the Africa Cup of Nations
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