The 2 defeats conceded towards Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké (1-3, March 24) and Moroni (0-2, March 28), mixed with Zambia’s victories towards Lesotho (3-1, 2- 0), have (virtually) definitively settled the destiny of the Comoros in Group H of the {qualifications} for CAN 2023. Along with the Ivorian Elephants, invited to participate within the playoffs however routinely certified, just one choice will qualify, and two days from the top, designating Zambia as one of the best positioned doesn’t appear to be a fantasy. The 2012 African champions have 9 factors, six greater than the Comorians, with a clearly favorable purpose distinction (+3 towards -3), and so they solely want a draw to play once more ultimate section of CAN, after having missed the final three editions.
The Comoros, superb 8e of finalists in 2022 in Cameroon, and fallen with honors towards the Indomitable Lions (1-2), will due to this fact most likely must cross their flip to search out the elite of African soccer. “It isn’t a catastrophe that the Comoros miss a ultimate section. We’re a small nation, we proceed to progress, however nobody will say that it’s a shock if we lose towards Côte d’Ivoire or Zambia. nuance Saïd Ali Athoumane, the president of the Comorian federation. “After all, we intention to take part repeatedly within the CAN, to proceed our progress, however we’re not going to query every little thing as a result of we might miss that of 2024.»
Defeats, however solely towards huge guys
The Coelacanthes modified coach after the Cameroonian CAN. Amir Abdou, appointed in 2014 and one of many principal architects of the spectacular Comorian development, left his publish to hitch Mauritania, and was changed by his deputy, the Franco-Moroccan Younes Zerdouk. The technician started his time period with a pleasant success towards Ethiopia (2-1, March 25, 2022) then Lesotho (2-0), in qualifying for the CAN, the next June 3. Since then, the islanders have suffered 5 consecutive defeats: towards Zambia (1-2, June 7), with a purpose conceded within the final minute, Tunisia (0-1) and Burkina Faso (1-2) in final September in friendlies, and due to this fact towards Côte d’Ivoire. “Solely defeats towards groups that are half, like Tunisia, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, of the ten finest Africans, and every time by inflicting them issues“recall President Athouman. “We modified coaches. Even when Younès Zerdouk was a part of the employees, he doesn’t essentially have the identical strategies as Amir Abdou. It’s logical that the gamers want time to adapt.»
Abdou’s successor additionally needed to take care of accidents to a few of his internationals, whereas others had been penalized by an absence of enjoying time.And the group has modified, some gamers have arrived, others have left. We should not neglect that the Comoros should not have a really massive pool of gamers“, continues Stated Ali Athouman. The Comoros, because of the weak spot of the native championship, depend on expatriates and twin nationals, scattered throughout Europe (France, Switzerland, Cyprus, Romania, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) and in Africa (South Africa , Tanzania). And that limits the alternatives of the coach…
Alexis Billebault
The article first appeared on Sport Information Africa.
Supply: sportnewsafrica