DOUALA, Cameroon – The Comoros Islands have been hit by an outbreak of Covid-19 in their camp, including their coach and two available goalkeepers, before their clash against hosts Cameroon on Monday in the last 16 of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2021) as Gambia clashes with Guinea in the Cameroonian city of Bafoussam also on Monday.
A total of 12 cases have been reported in their camp, the Comoros Football Federation said.
They now face a crisis in goal with first choice Salim Ben Boina injured and their other two keepers, Ali Ahamada and Moyadh Ousseni, now forced to isolate. Coach Amir Abdou is now also in quarantine.
The Comoros qualified for the last 16 against all expectations after a shock win over Ghana on Tuesday but now have a major crisis on their hands some 48 hours before the biggest game in their footballing history.
CAF has laid down strict rules regarding Covid-19 at the Cup of Nations finals.
If a player tests positive he will not be authorised to go to the stadium or participate in the match, while teams must play as long as they have a minimum 11 players available.
If they have no goalkeeper available, another player must play in that position.
Teams that do not have a minimum of 11 players available will be considered to have lost the match 2-0, according to CAF.
Meanwhile, Gambia play Guinea in the Cameroonian city of Bafoussam on Monday after qualifying from their group against the odds, beating Mauritania and former champions Tunisia and drawing with Mali.
“Everyone thought I was mad,” said Gambia’s coach Tom Saintfiet of his decision to take on the job of coaching Gambia, and yet the Belgian has led the little West African nation to the last 16 of the Cup of Nations.
It is a remarkable achievement for the Scorpions after they reached the AFCON for the very first time under Saintfiet, the 48-year-old whose CV reveals him to be a veritable globetrotter.
He has had spells with seven different African national teams as well as with Yemen, Trinidad and Tobago and Malta, not to mention Qatar’s Under-17 side and a stint in the Faroe Islands.
“I don’t really like the word globetrotter. I have gone around the world to be a coach rather than worked as a coach just to travel the world,” he told AFP.
Saintfiet began coaching aged 24 with a lower-league team in Belgium, having given up playing after rupturing his cruciate knee ligaments no fewer than six times.
Half his life has been spent going from one country to the next.
“I’ve had lots of adventures but the best story is this one, at the Afcon with Gambia. I am so pleased and so proud of my team,” he said.
Gambia, meanwhile, had never even made it to the tournament before.
They won only once in qualifying for the 2019 finals but the expansion of the Cup of Nations to 24 teams has helped, along with the influence of Saintfiet.
“When I arrived in July 2018, Gambia hadn’t won a qualifier in five years, since beating Tanzania 2-0 in September 2013,” he recalled.
“There was no hope; the team was 172nd in the FIFA rankings. I said I had come to qualify Gambia and people thought I was mad.
“I travelled around Europe, at my own expense, to go and convince players with dual nationality to represent us.
“I know our federation has limited means, so I can either stay at home or I can put my own investment into my team. Money has never been my motivation.”
Monay’s fixtures
6:00pm Guinea vs Gambia
9:00pm Cameroon vs Comoros
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