Despite a negative test goalkeeper, Comoros still start with a player on goal

Monday, January 24, 2022 at 7:59 PM• Tom Rofekamp • Last update: 20:14

Bad luck for the Comoros. The Africa Cup debutant, who will compete in the eighth final of the tournament against title favorite Cameroon on Monday evening, cannot use goalkeeper Ali Ahamada despite a negative corona test. According to protocol of the African Football Association (CAF), Ahamada must remain in quarantine because of his previous positive test. Left back Chaker Alhadhur therefore starts under the bar.

First goalkeeper Salim Ben Boina was injured on Tuesday during the surprising victory over Ghana (2-3). Moyadh Ousseini, the third goalkeeper in the selection of the Comoros, is also missing due to a positive test. The same goes for five other players. National coach Amir Abdou has also tested positive. Nevertheless, the match against Cameroon can ‘just’ take place. According to the rules of the CAF, football must be played if a team has eleven available players, regardless of whether there is a goalkeeper in between.

“In the event that a goalkeeper is not available, another player must replace the goalkeeper if the number of available players is at least eleven,” it sounds from the African Football Association. “In exceptional cases, the Africa Cup organizing committee will make an appropriate decision.” The question is how that last statement should be interpreted. Postponing the match could cause major problems in the tournament schedule.

The Comoros hoped that Ben Boina’s absence was seen as an ‘exceptional case’ as he was injured after a charge by André Ayew that resulted in a direct red card. “We are going to do everything in our power to find a solution,” Comoros team manager El Hadad Himidi announced to the BBC. Those efforts proved in vain. Assistant national coach Jean-Daniel Padovani, who replaces Abdou on the bench of the Comoros, now chooses Alhadhur. “He is a player who showed us during training that he is a great goalkeeper,” Padovani explained at the press conference the day before the game. André Onana starts under the bar with opponent Cameroon, just like in every game in the group stage.