Africa-Press – Cape verde. COMOROS almost pulled off Mission Impossible as they took ake on AFCON hosts Cameroon with no goalkeeper available.
The islanders were hit with a wave of Covid, ruling 12 players out of contention for this round of 16 game, including all their keepers.
As a result, left-back Chaker Alhadhur played in goal for the night.
To make matters worse, former Millwall star Nadjim Abdou was sent off after just six minutes, before Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting gave the Indomitable Lions the lead on the half hour mark.
Vincent Aboubakar then doubled the home side’s lead with 20 minutes remaining.
But a stunning free kick from Youssouf N’Changama gave Comoros hope.
Cameroon made it through to the quarter-finals after beating a depleted but heroic Comoros side at the Paul Biya Stadium.
The Coelacanths were without 12 players, who have contracted Covid-19 as well as manager Amir Abdou, who was replaced by assistant Younes Zerdouk.
The visitors were also playing with left-back Chaker Alhadhur as a makeshift goalkeeper as two of their keepers have coronavirus and the other is injured.
If that wasn’t enough, Comoros lost their captain Nadjim Abdou to a straight red card after he stomped on Moumi Ngamaleu’s ankle from behind in the seventh minute.
Cameroon didn’t really struggle and opened the scoring after 29 minutes when they dispossessed the opposing defence and Vincent Aboubakar teed off Karl Toko Ekambi, who didn’t miss in the area.
Alhadhur should have done better as he watched the weak shot send the ball to his bottom right corner, but then again who can blame him…
Alhadhur stole the headlines in the second half as he denied an unbelievable opportunity for Cameroon on 54 minutes.
Aboubakar broke inside the area from the left and delivered a shot that the Comoros makeshift keeper saved down his bottom left corner with a fine lunge.
Ngamaleu got the rebound but the full-back quickly got back up to his feet and saved his shot with a stunning save.
Comoros’ hopes seemed to have faded away in the 70th minute when Martin Hongla delivered a fantastic low pass to Aboubakar, who ran behind the visitors’ defence.
The Africa Cup of Nations’ leading goalscorer found himself in front of Alhadhur, who should have come off his line earlier, and beat him with a fine finish to score his sixth goal of the tournament.
But Comoros got one in with what will be remembered as their greatest goal so far, which could go down as the best finish of the tournament.
Youssouf M’Changama delivered a stunning long-range free-kick and sent the ball to the top right corner of Onana, who couldn’t do anything about it.
Cameroon made it to the Africa Cup of Nations’ quarter-finals and were superior to the depleted Comoros.
But the Coelacanths still put together an inspiring performance in what will go down as a historic Copa Africa for them.
The minnows were missing 12 players including their manager Amir Abdou to Covid-19.
They were also without a goalkeeper as two of them have coronavirus and the other is injured.
Thus, left-back Chaker Alhadhur had to start between the sticks in what should have been a very difficult decision for him.
And still, Alhadhur stood his ground and made six saves, which was two more than his counterpart Andre Onana.
The Ajaccio ace even made a brilliant double save on 54 minutes when he denied Vincent Aboubakar and Moumi Ngamaleu’s shots.
What’s next?
Cameroon are through to the Africa Cup of Nations’ quarter-finals after eliminating Comoros.
And the Indomitable Lions are set to face another Copa Africa debutant in the Gambia.
The Scorpions finished second in Group F behind Mali and eliminated Guinea in the Last 16.
Cameroon are now considered among the favourites to win the tournament.
Cameroon dominated 66 per cent of possession against a depleted Comoros side.
The Indomitable Lions registered a total of 19 shots, six of which were on target.
The Coelacanths, on the other hand, recorded 13 shots, seven of which were on target.
Comoros’ makeshift goalkeeper Chaker Alhadhur made six saves, two more than his counterpart Andre Onana.
Cameroon made it through to the quarter-finals after beating a depleted but heroic Comoros side at the Paul Biya Stadium.
The Coelacanths were without 12 players, who have contracted Covid-19 as well as manager Amir Abdou, who was replaced by assistant Younes Zerdouk.
The visitors were also playing with left-back Chaker Alhadhur as a makeshift goalkeeper as two of their keepers have coronavirus and the other is injured.
If that wasn’t enough, Comoros lost their captain Nadjim Abdou to a straight red card after he stomped on Moumi Ngamaleu’s ankle from behind in the seventh minute.
Cameroon didn’t really struggle and opened the scoring after 29 minutes when they dispossessed the opposing defence and Vincent Aboubakar teed off Karl Toko Ekambi, who didn’t miss in the area.
Alhadhur should have done better as he watched the weak shot send the ball to his bottom right corner, but then again who can blame him…
But Comoros showed some real spirit as they came close to an equaliser TWICE on 33 minutes.
Ahmed Mogni delivered a fantastic shot from the edge of the box but Andre Onana denied it with an incredible lunge to his bottom left corner.
Youssouf M’Changama got the rebound inside the penalty area and released a good shot towards the bottom right corner but Onana showed incredible reflexes once more.
Alhadhur stole the headlines in the second half as he denied an unbelievable opportunity for Cameroon on 54 minutes.
Aboubakar broke inside the area from the left and delivered a shot that the Comoros makeshift keeper saved down his bottom left corner with a fine lunge.
Ngamaleu got the rebound but the full-back quickly got back up to his feet and saved his shot with a stunning save.
Comoros’ hopes seemed to have faded away in the 70th minute when Martin Hongla delivered a fantastic low pass to Aboubakar, who ran behind the visitors’ defence.
The Africa Cup of Nations’ leading goalscorer found himself in front of Alhadhur, who should have come off his line earlier, and beat him with a fine finish to score his sixth goal of the tournament.
But Comoros got one in with what will be remembered as their greatest goal so far, which could go down as the best finish of the tournament.
M’Changama delivered a stunning long-range free-kick and sent the ball to the top right corner of Onana, who couldn’t do anything about it.
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