Published by the government of Zimbabwe
21 October 2009
Harare — A GOAL in each half by a determined Comoros outfit ensured the little Indian islanders are still in contention for a place in the quarter-finals of the Cosafa Senior Challenge following their stunning win over the Seychelles at Barbourfields yesterday.
Comoros, who came into the tournament wearing the underdog tag in Group B, got their goals through Ahmed Ali in the sixth minute and hard-running captain Mohamed Mouigni completed the dream day for the island nation in the 64th minute.
Seychelles, who have now been booted out of the tournament, got their consolation through a blistering shot by in-form Don Anacoura in the 54th minute.
Comoros now need to beat Swaziland and pray that Botswana fall or draw to Seychelles so that they book a berth in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Comoros' adventure helped them get an early goal, which they held on to until the break.
Their attacking play paid off in the sixth minute when Ali beat an offside trap on the left flank and ran to a pass from the midfield.
He then slipped the ball under goalkeeper Nelson Sopha.
Anacoura, the Seychelles star, then equalised for his side when his screamer beat goalkeeper Mroivilli Mahamoud.
But Comoros have shown that they are a team that has character and they duly found the winning goal when Mouigni broke loose on the left flank.
He moved swiftly with the ball into the Seychelles goal area and his shot found its target.
Sopha appeared to have saved the ball but it somehow squeezed past him and the Comoros were on their way to victory in this battle of the Indian Ocean islands.
The Comoros played with adventure and strikers Ali, Miktad Daoud, Soilihi Bourhane and captain Mouigni kept the Seychelles defence on their toes.
The Seychelles had their chances, too, and in the 40th minute, veteran Philip Zaillor could have equalised but he delayed pulling the trigger and the chance was lost.
An elated Comoros coach, Abderemane Chamite, said his team was confident of beating Swaziland and winning the group.
"I cannot say that we are going to lose the match. We are here to gain experience and as you can realise I have changed the team that played Botswana," Chamite said.
Teams
Seychelles: N Sopha, J Bibi, V Rose (E Telemaque 88th minute), R Marengo, N Freminot, D Anacoura, A Henriette, G Jesinghause, P Ziallor, H Ernesta (A Nibourette 46th minute), N Laurence (T Poiret 83rd minute)
Comoros: M Mahamoud, A Rassoul, A Msaidie, M Mohamed, A Ali (A Ali 89th minute), S Bourhane (R Zouboudou 61st minute), M Daoud, D Abdoulhmiou, M Ali, M Mouigni (M Farouk 76th minute), A Moindjie
Comoros....................................................................................(1) 2
Seychelles.................................................................................(0) 1
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