Comoros are set to play their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash against Cameroon without a recognised goalkeeper, despite No 1 Ali Ahamada testing negative for Covid-19 before the match.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) told BBC Sport Africa that Ahamada, who had tested positive for the virus, has not fulfilled its protocols to play in the match.
The rules state that players must isolate for five days before taking another PCR test 48 hours before their side’s next match.
Comoros goalkeeper Ali Ahamada cannot play his side’s last-16 tie against Cameroon
Ahamada has not been able to take the relevant Covid-19 tests in time for the encounter
It means Comoros, ranked 132nd in the FIFA rankings, will face Cameroon without a recognised goalkeeper and will be forced to play an outfield player in goal.
Fellow stoppers Salim Ben Boina and Moyadh Ousseini are out with a shoulder injury and Covid respectively.
The rules also mean that midfielder Yacine Bourhane, who has also returned a negative test ahead of the Cameroon tie, will be absent.
Comoros manager El Hadad Himini had said earlier on Monday that he was hopeful of having the pair available for the match.
‘If the tests go well, we will await the findings of the medical commission to see if they can play or not,’ Himini said in a statement posted on Twitter.
Midfielder Yacine Bourhane will also miss the Comoros match against Cameroon
‘We hope they will grant us our rights, just as they did with the other teams. We are waiting now and we hope everything will be better for us.’
Comoros are competing at their first ever Africa Cup of Nations and advanced to the knock-out stages after finishing third in group C thanks to a 3-2 victory against Ghana.
Defenders Kassim Abdallah and Alexis Souahy, midfielder Nakibou Aboubakari, forward Mohamed M’Changama and coach Amir Abdou also tested positive in the outbreak in the Comoros camp.
