Official 20/21 Various National Soccer Team News Thread

[Locke]

Go Comoros!

[CroFlames]

I honestly thought I had at least HEARD of every country in the world.

[devo22]

add me to the list of people who had never heard of Comoros before. Crazy.

[Locke]

I'm cheering for Comoros now.

All in on Comoros.

[GirlySports]

They actually needed 4 things to happen since their win over Ghana


Sudan to not beat Egypt (check)
Guinea-Bissau to not beat Nigeria (check)
Algeria to not beat Ivory Coast (check)
Equatorial Guinea vs Sierra Leone to not tie or Sierra Leone to not win by 1 (check)


That last one was the hardest. The Equatorial Guinea keeper saved a penalty!

[GirlySports]

Africa World Cup Final Round Draw


Salah vs Mane!
Ghana vs Nigeria!

https://twitter.com/user/status/1484925480319045634

[Bagor]

As if they weren't up against it already. No coach. No goalies.

Africa Cup of Nations giant-killers Comoros face a goalkeeping crisis before the biggest game in the country’s history on Monday.

The tournament debutants play hosts and five-time champions Cameroon in Yaounde on Monday, but their camp has been hit by 12 positive Covid cases including coach Amir Abdou.

Seven players have been affected, including the two remaining fit keepers in the squad, Moyadh Ousseini and Ali Ahamada, with first-choice Salim Ben Boina out through injury.

“We will do everything in our power to find a solution,” said general manager El Hadad Himidi.

Himidi added: “It’s the coach and the only fit goalkeepers, so the situation is really complicated.”

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) ruled before the tournament that teams affected by Covid must play matches even if they have no recognised goalkeeper in their squad.

"A team will be required to play a match if they have a minimum of 11 players available who have tested negative,” stated Caf.

“In the event of the absence of a goalkeeper, another player from the team must replace the goalkeeper, provided the total number of available players is at least 11.

"In exceptional cases, the Organizing Committee of the Africa Cup of Nations will take the appropriate decision."

Comoros will hope the injury suffered by Ben Boina could be considered an exceptional case, given the keeper had to leave the field after a red-card challenge by Ghana captain Andre Ayew in Tuesday's Group C tie.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/60097828

[Bagor]

Africa Cup of Nations giant-killers Comoros will play Monday's last-16 game against hosts Cameroon without a recognised goalkeeper.

Salim Ben Boina was injured in their final Group C match, while fellow keepers Ali Ahamada and Moyadh Ousseini have tested positive for Covid-19.

Nations Cup rules state sides must play if they have 11 fit players.

Comoros goalkeeping coach Jean-Daniel Padovani said an outfield player would go in goal.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/africa/60104273

[Locke]

AFCON actually Bush League?

Malawi head coach Mario Marinica has hit out at the conditions his team have encountered at their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) accommodation and outlined his belief that there is a conscious bias against the "smaller" teams in the competition.

The Flames will face Morocco at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde in Tuesday's round of 16 clash, but their preparations have been affected by food poisoning, a lack of basic commodities, and, according to Marinica, a dearth of facilities for clothes washing.

"You wouldn't see Sadio Mane washing his own underpants and hanging them on a bush to dry," Marinica told ESPN. "Gambia have the same problem, and there are different standards here, teams are being treated differently.

https://global.espn.com/football/mal...n-mistreatment

[Locke]

Left-back Chaker Alhadhur will be in goal for the Comoros Islands when they face Africa Cup of Nations hosts Cameroon in their Round of 16 showdown at the Stade d'Olembe, Yaounde.

The move comes after returning goalkeeper Ali Ahamada was barred from playing despite returning a negative COVID test result on Monday morning.

https://global.espn.com/football/afr...on-round-of-16

This is going to be interesting.

Comoros with a red card 7 minutes in and now down 1-0 to Cameroon.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Locke

AFCON actually Bush League?

https://global.espn.com/football/mal...n-mistreatment

Wait, the Flames? I guess that's one way to try to get Markstroms GAA down.

[GirlySports]

[Locke]

Oh AFCON...

If you dont constantly want to be referred to as a third rate tournament...you gotta do something about stuff like this...

[Locke]

Boo-urns Comoros. They gave it a good shot though.

[Bagor]

Goal of the tournament contender though.

[Locke]

At least six people have died in a stampede outside a stadium hosting an Africa Cup of Nations soccer game in Cameroon, an official said Monday.

Officials said around 50,000 people had tried to attend the match. The stadium has a capacity of 60,000, but it was not meant to be more than 80% full for the game due to restrictions on the size of the crowd because of the coronavirus pandemic.

https://global.espn.com/football/afr...cup-of-nations

Not good.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

That is literally beer league.

[Locke]

What is the record for Red Cards at a Tournament.

[Locke]

Its a goddamned Man United conspiracy! A conspiracy I tell you!

Eric Bailly misses his Penalty so Egypt go through and Salah cant come back yet!

Get out of there Mo!

[Senator Clay Davis]

It's tough to undersell how unseemly and insulting this comment is. Like I'd have way more respect for him if he just straight up said "We want more money, simple as" instead of trying to using refugees as a shield. But also incredibly on brand for FIFA.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1486305261061033984