Comoros score the best goal… and Cameroon beat a team without a goalkeeper !

The Comoros national team stole everyone’s appreciation after their historic consistency against Cameroon, despite the difficult circumstances surrounding the team match in the the Africa Cup of Nations, in a tournament that saw the Gambia team shine brightly in their first appearance.

Tournament hosts Cameroon beat Comoros 2-1 after a game that saw Comoros player Nadjim Abdo sent off early in the seventh minute, and after the video assistant referee intervened due to a violent error in the middle of the field.

The expulsion doubled the problems for the team, which is taking part in the tournament for the first time, as they played the match without a main goalkeeper and many of their players due to a Corona virus infection.

Karl Toko Ekambi scored Cameroon’s first goal in the 29th minute after a weak shot past Shaker El Hadhour, and Vincent Abubakar added the second from close range in the 70th minute.

Youssef Mchangama closed the gap for Comoros with a superb long-range free kick in the 81st minute.

A defender in goalkeeper attire !

The Comoros national team had to rely on left-back Shaker Al-Hadhour to guard the goal against Cameroon, after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) refused to include goalkeeper Ali Ahmeda, although his result tested negative for Covid-19.

And goalkeeper Salem Ben Buena has suffered a serious shoulder injury, while the two goalkeepers, Ahmeda and Moayed Osini, went into self-isolation last week due to Corona virus infection.

Ahmeda’s result was negative on Monday, and the Comoros Federation announced during a press briefing that the goalkeeper could play.

But Kef’s medical committee rejected the goalkeeper’s involvement and said any player who enters quarantine must wait 5 days before playing.

The Comoros have relied on goalkeeper Shaker El Hadhour, 30, who plays for Ajaccio in the French second division, and this is the first appearance in the tournament for the player who joined the national team in 2014.

Comoros coach Amir Abdo is still in quarantine and watched the most important football game in the country’s history from his hotel room.

Abdo was behind the development of this team and led them to qualify for the final prize, against all odds, after their sudden victory over Ghana 3-2.

The Tournament rules state that any team must play as long as they have 11 players ready