Comoros in goalkeeper crisis, fields outfield player in goal for AFCON match vs Cameroon

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Comoros in goalkeeper crisis, fields outfield player in goal for AFCON match vs Cameroon image

Comoros fielded an outfield player in goal for its Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 match against host Cameroon after seeing its three regular shot-stopping options wiped out amid a COVID-19 and injury crisis.

Left back Chaker Alhadhur stepped up to wear the gloves and his performance was the big talking point of the match.

The island nation of Comoros wasn't even expected to make it this far: It sprung a huge surprise by qualifying for the last 16 in their first appearance at the competition, and it faced the in-form Indomitable Lions that lit up the group stage with seven goals. 

Cameroon scored another two goals to eliminate Comoros, but the decimated Coelacanths' squad put up a fight beginning with its left back between the sticks. Alhadhur donned the goalkeeper jersey and made sure his No. 3 was visible for starters: 

Alhadhur allowed one goal in the first half and he didn't have to make a single save in the opening 45 minutes. He wasn't so willing to use his hands on this ball near the outside of the box. It was a prudent move by the stand-in goalkeeper:

In the second half Alhadhur was busier, making four stops, beginning with this one after the break:

And then here's how he thwarted AFCON top scorer Vincent Aboubakar with this unconventional double save:

Who is Alhadhur?

Comoros goalkeeper coach Jean-Daniel Padovani confirmed prior to the match that the team had selected a player to step into the goalkeeper role and it was revealed to be Alhadhur when the starting XI was announced on the day of the match.

The defender was born in France and has spent his entire career in the country. His professional career started at his local team, Nantes, before he moved on to Caen and Chateauroux, and eventually joined current club Ajaccio in 2021.

The 30-year-old made his Comoros debut in a friendly against Burkina Faso in 2014 and became a first-team regular until a cruciate ligament injury ruled him out for the latter stages of their qualification campaign for this year’s AFCON.

Alhadhur was an unused substitute for each of the team’s AFCON 2022 group stage matches against Gabon, Morocco and Ghana.

Alhadhur, who's listed on Ajaccio's web site as 5-foot-8, is not known to have played as a goalkeeper in an official match before Monday’s meeting with Cameroon. However, Padovani told reporters last week that he has looked good in training in the build up to the match.

“It's a player who in training has shown that he can play as a keeper,” he told reporters.

What happened to the Comoros goalkeepers?

Two of the country's three goalkeepers, Moyadh Ousseini and Ali Ahamada, tested positive for COVID-19 and missed Monday's match, while first-choice Salim Ben Boina was out injured. 

Comoros was still obliged to take the field as long as they had 11 players available, regardless of their goalkeeper predicament.

MORE: AFCON Round of 16 schedule

It was a difficult assignment since it wasn't just the shot-stoppers who were suffering. In total, 12 members of the Comoros squad were ruled out through COVID, as was coach Amir Abdou.

“We try to deal with it the best we can," Comoros general manager El Hadad Himidi explained prior to the match. “Without the coach, some major players and the two remaining goalkeepers, the situation is quite difficult.”

What happened in Comoros-Cameroon?

Despite going down to 10 men just seven minutes into the match after a red card was shown to Comoros player Nadjim Abdou for a stomp on an opponent, the heroics of 30-year-old Alhadhur kept his team in the game and gave Comoros a fighting chance.

MORE: AFCON 2022 top goalscorers

Sadly for Comoros, Cameroon's Aboubakar managed to break through and get his side's second goal in the 70th minute.

Although Comoros No. 10 Youssouf M'Changama pulled a goal back in the 81st minute with a stunning free-kick effort sailing into the top corner, Cameroon held on to the lead and booked their place in the next round.

The Indomitable Lions will face The Gambia in the quarterfinals.

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