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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Guardian sport

‘He can play as a keeper’: Comoros to use outfield player in net in Afcon last-16 tie

Comoros' goalkeeper Salim Ben Boina was stretchered off during game with Ghana.
Comoros' goalkeeper Salim Ben Boina was stretchered off during game with Ghana. Photograph: Daniel Beloumou Olomo/AFP/Getty Images

Comoros will be forced to start an outfield player in goal for their Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 clash against hosts Cameroon on Monday, as their three goalkeepers are all absent.

First choice Salim Ben Boina is missing through injury after being stretchered off in their win over Ghana, while his understudies, Moyadh Ousseini and Ali Ahamada, have tested positive for Covid.

It is a huge blow for the team as their build up to arguably the biggest match in their history. They have a total of seven players absent due to Covid, severely depleting their ranks.

An unnamed outfield player has been training as a goalkeeper in recent days to prepare him to face the tournaments top scorers, who scored seven goals in their three group matches.

The Comoros assistant manager Daniel Padovanni said: “We’ve already chosen an outfield player who will start as keeper. It’s a player who in training has shown that he can play as a keeper.”


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