Comoros stun Botswana's Zebras

by Staff Reporter

Thursday Mar 24, 2016. 16:51

Comoros stunned Botswana 1-0 in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Stade Said Mohamed Cheikh in Mitsamiouli on Thursday.

The Group D encounter was played on a wet pitch and the match was halted on the hour-mark due to heavy rain. Les Coelecantes snatched their goal a few minutes after the game resumed.

The Zebras of Botswana enjoyed more possession in the opening stages of the encounter. Ofentse Nato fired his shot over the Comoros goal-posts from range just five minutes into the game.

In the 14th minute, Galabgwe Moyana had a chance to put the visitors into the lead from a free-kick, but his effort from the set-piece went straight into Comoros goalkeeper Ali Ahamada's hands.

However, Les Coelecantes piled on the pressure on the Botswana backline towards the half-hour mark by playing crosses into the box which were cleared by the Zebras defence.

Comoros forward El Fardou Ben Mohamed missed a golden chance when he failed to beat Kabelo Dambe in the Zebras goal with his header in the 33rd minute.

Ahamada pulled off an impressive double save to deny Botswana the opening goal a few minutes before the half-time break. The score was 0-0 during the half-time break.

Five minutes into the second-half, Dambe was forced to make a comfortable save following corner-kick by the Les Coelecantes.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 67th minute and it was Ben Mohamed who fired Comoros into the lead much to the delight of the home crowd.

With 19 minutes left on the clock, Zebras head coach Peter Butler decided to introduce Segolame Boy as the away side looked to grab an equalising goal.

Nevertheless, Comoros contained Botswana in the remaining minutes and the match ended 1-0 in favour of the home side.

The return leg will be played at the Francistown Sports Complex in Botswana's second City, Francistown, on Sunday.

Comoros (0) 1 (Ben Mohamed 67')
Botswana (0) 0

Comoros XI: Ahamada, Rachidi, Mramboni, Abdallah, Albhadhur, Abdou, M'Changama, Mogni, Youssouf, Ben Mohamed, Bakar.

Botswana XI: Dambe, Sosome, Mafoko, Gaolalwe, Nato, Ditsele, Seakanyeng, Moyana, Moyo, Ngele, Kebatho.