Comoros national football team
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| Nickname(s) | Les Coelacantes (The Coelacanths) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Fédération de Football de Comores (FFC) | |||
| Confederation | CAF (Africa) | |||
| Sub-confederation | COSAFA (Southern Africa) | |||
| Head coach | Younes Zerdouk[1] | |||
| Captain | Nadjim Abdou | |||
| Most caps | Youssouf M'Changama (54) | |||
| Top scorer | Ben Nabouhane (17) | |||
| Home stadium | Stade Omnisports de Malouzini | |||
| FIFA code | COM | |||
| ||||
| FIFA ranking | ||||
| Current | 131 | |||
| Highest | 126 (June 2022) | |||
| Lowest | 207 (December 2006) | |||
| First international | ||||
(Saint-Denis, Réunion; 26 August 1979) | ||||
| Biggest win | ||||
(Mitsamiouli, Comoros; 1 September 2021) | ||||
| Biggest defeat | ||||
(Saint-Denis, Réunion; 31 August 1979) (Victoria, Seychelles; 20 August 1993) (Curepipe, Mauritius; 4 September 2003) | ||||
| Africa Cup of Nations | ||||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2021) | |||
| Best result | Round of 16 (2021) | |||
| COSAFA Cup | ||||
| Appearances | 5 (first in 2008) | |||
| Best result | Quarter-finals (2019) | |||
The Comoros national football team represents the Comoros in international football and is controlled by the Comoros Football Federation.[3] It was formed in 1979, joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2003, and became a FIFA member in 2005. Comoros qualified for their first major tournament in 2021, after their 0–0 draw with Togo assured them of a place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.[4]
History
The national football team of the Comoros played their first matches in the 1979 Indian Ocean Island Games. Those were the only games they played until qualification for the 2009 Arab Nations Cup in 2006. Those two matches were their first two matches with full FIFA recognition, and included a 4–2 victory over Djibouti. In 2007, Comoros first entered qualification for the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations for the 2010 tournaments, but lost in the preliminary round 2–10 on aggregate to Madagascar.
During the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in October 2015, Les Coelacantes advanced past the first round for the first time ever by beating Lesotho on away goals after two draws. Since then results have improved steadily, including home wins against Botswana, Mauritius and Malawi in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
On 14 November 2019, Comoros opened their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign with a 0–1 win away to Togo, their first away win in a major qualifier. They would go on to qualify for the final tournament, their first major tournament since joining FIFA.[4]
In the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Ahmed Mogni scored a brace for Comoros in their 3–2 group match victory over Ghana in what the BBC described as "one of the biggest shocks in Nations Cup history".[5]
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2022
| 3 June 2023 AFCON qualification | Comoros | 2–0 | | Moroni, Comoros |
| 16:00 UTC+3 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade Omnisports de Malouzini Referee: Andofetra Rakotojaona (Madagascar) |
| 7 June 2023 AFCON qualification | Zambia | 2–1 | | Lusaka, Zambia |
| 15:00 UTC+2 | Report |
|
Stadium: National Heroes Stadium Referee: Samuel Uwikunda (Rwanda) |
| 5 July 2022 COSAFA Cup | Angola | 3–1 | | Durban, South Africa |
| 15:00 UTC+2 | Report |
|
Stadium: King Zwelithini Stadium |
| 7 July 2022 COSAFA Cup | Comoros | 0–1 | | Durban, South Africa |
| 15:00 UTC+2 | Report |
|
Stadium: King Zwelithini Stadium |
| 10 July 2022 COSAFA Cup | Seychelles | 1–2 | | KwaMashu, South Africa |
| 15:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Princess Magogo Stadium |
| 23 September Friendly | Tunisia | 1–0 | | Croissy-sur-Seine, France |
| 16:30 UTC+2 |
|
Report | Stadium: Stade Omnisports du Chemin de Ronde Referee: Gabriel Henry (France) |
| 27 September Friendly | Burkina Faso | 2–1 | | Casablanca, Morocco |
| --:-- | Report |
|
Stadium: TBD |
2023
| 24 March 2023 AFCON qualification | Ivory Coast | 3–1 | | Bouaké, Ivory Coast |
| 17:00 UTC±0 | Report | Stadium: Stade Bouaké Referee: Abdel Aziz Mohamed Bouh (Mauritania) |
| 28 March 2023 AFCON qualification | Comoros | 0–2 | | Moroni, Comoros |
| 15:00 UTC+3 | Report |
|
Stadium: Stade Omnisports de Malouzini Referee: Peter Waweru (Kenya) |
| September 2023 AFCON qualification | Comoros | v | | Moroni, Comoros |
| Stadium: Stade Omnisports de Malouzini |
Coaching history
Pierre Jacky (1985)
Ali Mbaé Camara (2006–2007)
Manuel Amoros (2010)
Mohamed Chamité (2010–2011)
Ali Mbaé Camara (2011–2013)
Amir Abdou (2014–2022)
Younes Zerdouk (2022–present)
Players
Current squad
- The following players were called up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches.[6]
- Match dates: 24 and 28 March 2023
- Opposition:
Ivory Coast - Caps and goals correct as of: 28 March 2023, after the match against
Ivory Coast.
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Moyadh Ousseni | 2 April 1993 | 1 | 0 | v. | |
| GK | Fahad Abdoul-Anziz | 15 August 1995 | 3 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| GK | Ahmed Fajidou | 31 December 2000 | 0 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| GK | Djawadi Youssouf | 5 December 2001 | 0 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| DF | Chaker Alhadhur | 4 December 1991 | 33 | 1 | v. | |
| DF | Safwan Mbaé | 20 April 1997 | 1 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | Alexis Souahy | 13 January 1995 | 1 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | Aaron Kamardin | 8 April 2002 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| DF | Malaga Soulaimana | 5 April 1989 | 18 | 1 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| DF | Bakri Youssouf | 1 July 1996 | 12 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| DF | Abdallah Allaoui | 23 July 1987 | 7 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| DF | Omar Abdoul-Anziz | 0 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | ||
| DF | Ali Mohammad Ibrahim | 27 June 1994 | 0 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| DF | Mouhamadi Salim | 0 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | ||
| DF | Mohammad Zamir | 28 October 1995 | 9 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| DF | Kassim Ahamada | 18 April 1992 | 10 | 0 | Free agent | v. |
| MF | Aymeric Ahmed | 8 November 2003 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| MF | Faouz Faidine Attoumane | 4 January 1994 | 23 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| MF | Arkane Mohamed | 11 October 1993 | 11 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| MF | Moudhoiffar Ali Mze | 8 August 1997 | 4 | 1 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| MF | Oubeidullah Soufiane | 25 December 1999 | 1 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| MF | Raidou Boina Bacar | 4 August 1992 | 14 | 2 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| MF | Hashim El Hadad | 3 July 1995 | 0 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| MF | Rafidine Abdullah | 15 January 1994 | 19 | 0 | Free agent | v. |
| FW | Nasser Chamed | 4 October 1993 | 24 | 1 | v. | |
| FW | Housseine Zakouani | 30 April 1998 | 2 | 0 | v. | |
| FW | Adel Mahamoud | 4 February 2003 | 2 | 0 | v. | |
| FW | Zaïd Amir | 11 May 2002 | 0 | 0 | v. | |
| FW | Ali Nassim M'Changama | 23 September 1996 | 11 | 3 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| FW | Mohamed Chamoune | 6 November 1994 | 3 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| FW | Mahamoud Abdoullah | 24 March 1998 | 3 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| FW | Misbahou Ibrahim | 6 June 1996 | 5 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| FW | Djailane Roihimou | 26 June 2002 | 2 | 0 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| FW | Abdullah Said Sadad | 29 July 1994 | 7 | 1 | 2022 COSAFA Cup | |
| FW | Ali M'Madi | 21 April 1990 | 33 | 0 | v. | |
| FW | Faiz Mattoir | 12 July 2000 | 11 | 2 | v. | |
Player records
- As of 28 March 2023[7]
- Players in bold are still active with the Comoros.
Most appearances
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| Rank | Player | Caps | Goals | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Youssouf M'Changama | 56 | 11 | 2010–present |
| 2 | Mohamed Youssouf | 41 | 3 | 2011–present |
| 3 | Nadjim Abdou | 40 | 0 | 2010–present |
| 4 | Fouad Bachirou | 39 | 0 | 2014–present |
| 5 | Benjaloud Youssouf | 38 | 2 | 2015–present |
| 6 | Ben Nabouhane | 37 | 17 | 2014–present |
| 7 | Ali Ahamada | 36 | 0 | 2016–present |
| 8 | Chaker Alhadhur | 33 | 1 | 2014–present |
| Ibroihim Djoudja | 33 | 7 | 2017–present | |
| Ali M'Madi | 33 | 0 | 2010–present | |
Top goalscorers
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| Rank | Player | Goals | Caps | Ratio | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Nabouhane | 17 | 37 | 0.46 | 2014–present |
| 2 | Youssouf M'Changama | 11 | 56 | 0.2 | 2010–present |
| 3 | Ibroihim Djoudja | 7 | 33 | 0.21 | 2017–present |
| 4 | Faïz Selemani | 4 | 25 | 0.16 | 2017–present |
| Ahmed Mogni | 4 | 26 | 0.15 | 2015–present | |
| 6 | Ali Nassim M'Changama | 3 | 11 | 0.27 | 2019–present |
| Mohamed Youssouf | 3 | 41 | 0.07 | 2011–present | |
| 8 | Soulaimane Athoumane | 2 | 3 | 0.67 | 2011 |
| Ahmed Saïd Anfane | 2 | 4 | 0.5 | 2006–2011 | |
| Mohamed Mouigni | 2 | 11 | 0.18 | 2003–2010 | |
| Faiz Mattoir | 2 | 11 | 0.18 | 2020–present | |
| Raïdou Boina Bacar | 2 | 14 | 0.14 | 2015–present | |
| Djamel Bakar | 2 | 16 | 0.13 | 2016–2018 | |
| Mohamed M'Changama | 2 | 20 | 0.1 | 2010–present | |
| Benjaloud Youssouf | 2 | 38 | 0.05 | 2015–present | |
Competitive record
FIFA World Cup
| FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup qualification record | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
| Part of | Part of | |||||||||||||||
| Not affiliated with FIFA | Not affiliated with FIFA | |||||||||||||||
| did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | ||||||||||
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |||||||||||
| 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||
| to be determined | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Total | 0/22 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 21 | |||||||||
Olympic Games
| Olympic Games record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances: 0 | ||||||||
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| Part of | ||||||||
| Not affiliated with the IOC | ||||||||
| Not affiliated with FIFA | ||||||||
| did not enter | ||||||||
| to be determined | ||||||||
| Total | 0/27 | |||||||
- Football at the Summer Olympics has been an under-23 tournament since the 1992 edition.
Africa Cup of Nations
| Africa Cup of Nations record | Africa Cup of Nations qualification record | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
| Part of |
Part of | ||||||||||||||||
| Not a member of CAF | Not a member of CAF | ||||||||||||||||
| did not enter | did not enter | ||||||||||||||||
| did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | |||||||||||
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 14 | ||||||||||||
| did not enter | did not enter | ||||||||||||||||
| did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 10 | ||||||||||||
| Round of 16 | 16th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | Squad | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6 | |||
| to be determined | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | |||||||||||
| to be determined | to be determined | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | Round of 16 | 1/34 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | — | 34 | 6 | 8 | 20 | 23 | 56 | ||
African Games
| African Games record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances: 0 | ||||||||
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| Part of | ||||||||
| Not affiliated with the IOC | ||||||||
| did not enter | ||||||||
| Total | 0/12 | |||||||
- Prior to the Cairo 1991 campaign, Football at the All-Africa Games was open to full senior national teams.
African Nations Championship
| African Nations Championship record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances: 0 | ||||||||
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| did not enter | ||||||||
| did not qualify | ||||||||
| Total | 0/7 | |||||||
COSAFA Cup
| COSAFA Cup record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances: 5 | ||||||||
| Year | Round | Result | M | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 1997 to 2007 | Not affiliated with COSAFA | |||||||
| Group stage | 11th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
| 5th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| Cancelled | ||||||||
| did not enter | ||||||||
| Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |
| Quarter-finals | 8th | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | |
| Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||||
| Withdrew | ||||||||
| Group stage | 12th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | |
| Total | Quarter-finals | 5/21 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 24 |
Indian Ocean Island Games
| Indian Ocean Island Games record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances: 10 | ||||||||
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| Bronze Medal | 3rd | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 12 | |
| Bronze Medal | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | |
| Fourth Place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | |
| Group Stage | 5th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | |
| 5th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | ||
| Fourth Place | 4th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 12 | |
| Group Stage | 6th | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
| 5th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||
| 7th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 5th | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | ||
| Total | Bronze Medal | 10/10 | 29 | 5 | 4 | 20 | 17 | 65 |
Arab Nations Cup
| Arab Nations Cup record | Arab Nations Cup Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances: 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | ||
| Part of | Part of | |||||||||||||||
| did not enter | did not enter | |||||||||||||||
| Withdrew | Withdrew | |||||||||||||||
| did not enter | did not enter | |||||||||||||||
| did not qualify 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||
| did not enter | ||||||||||||||||
| did not qualify | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||
| Total | 0/10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 8 | |||||||||
Head-to-head record
As of 24 January 2022
| Opponent | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | −3 | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | |
| 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | −2 | |
| 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 25 | −22 | |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | −2 | |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 5 | +4 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | |
| 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 22 | −16 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 12 | −11 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −4 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | −4 | |
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 13 | −9 | |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | |
| 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 7 | −3 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | −5 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | |
| 29 Countries | 89 | 16 | 22 | 51 | 62 | 156 | −93 |
References
- Houssamdine, Boina. "Younes Zerdouk, Younes Zerdouk nommé sélectionneur des Comores". Comoros Football.
- "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- Vickers, Steve (24 October 2009). "BBC SPORT | Football | African | Comoros make steps forward". BBC News. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
- "Comoros achieve fairytale Nations Cup qualification". BBC Sport. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- Stevens, Rob (18 January 2022). "Ghana dumped out of Afcon by Comoros". BBC Sport.
- "[liste] Voici le groupe de joueurs sélectionnés par Younes Zerdouk pour affronter la Côte D'Ivoire !". Les Cœlacanthes des Comores - Twitter. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- Zimmerman, Benjamin. "Comoros". National Football Teams.
External links
- FFC official website
- Comoros at FIFA.com
- Bourtney, Barri. Comoros – List of International Matches± at RSSSF.com (Last updated: January 31, 2008)
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