Party time in Comoros after historic Africa Cup qualification

A dour 0-0 Africa Cup of Nations home draw with Togo on Thursday was instantly forgotten by Comoros supporters as they celebrated reaching the finals for the first time.

The southeast island state have steadily improved since being humiliated twice by Madagascar when they debuted in the 2010 edition.

And the stalemate with bottom team Togo at Stade Maluzini in Moroni ensured a top-two finish in Group G with Egypt filling the other place a few hours later by drawing 1-1 in Kenya.

It was a situation no one predicted ahead of the first qualifiers two years ago with record seventime African champions Egypt hot favourites and Kenya and Togo expected to slug it out for second place.

But with one round to come on Monday, the team representing a state with a population approaching just 900,000 trail Mohamed

Salah’s side only on goal difference with each on nine points.

Unable to attend the qualifier because of coronavirus restrictions, Comorans compensated by filling the streets of the coastal capital city to salute their heroes.

“This is our country. We are so proud. We want to get to the top now,” said one jubilant supporter.

The qualification is the stuff of fairytales, and a lesson to often trigger-happy national football officials to give coaches reasonable time to develop a winning formula.

Marseille-born Amir Abdou has been in charge since 2014 and slowly but surely the team known as the Coelacanths after a rare fish has improved to a level where they can draw with Egypt in Moroni.

The team that started against Togo are all based in Europe, but contained only three players with top-flight clubs, and one from an amateur side in France.