January 28 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has fined Comoros $5,000 for “not respecting shirt numbers” and $2,000 for delaying kick-off in their last-16 match against Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Left-back Chaker Alhadhur featured in the starting lineup of Comoros as a stand-in goalkeeper following a Covid-19 outbreak in the squad against the hosts in the knockout stages of the continental championships. His name was printed on the goalkeeper shirt in time for kick off, but his squad number had simply been taped to his shirt.
Alhadhur performed some heroic saves against the hosts but ultimately the debutants went down 2-1 after a tense match to exit the tournament in style.
CAF has now clamped down on Alhadur shirt irregularity with a fine. They also fined the islanders $2,000 for delaying kick-off by two minutes and slapped Comoros with a $10,000 fine for not respecting Covid-19 protocols.
The match was first marred in controversy as Comoros goalkeeper Ali Ahamada had tested negative on the morning of the match. CAF rules state, however, that a player who tests positive for the coronavirus must isolate for five days, The match was then overshadowed by tragedy as eight supporters were crushed to death in a crowd surge as fans tried to enter the Olembe Stadium.
The fines will be perceived as petty from an embattled governing body after Comoros provided the tournament with a fairy tale. In the first round, they had eliminated West African powerhouses Ghana from the competition with a memorable 3-2 victory.
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