Ben El Fardou included in the Comoros Islands squad

Ben El Fardou

Tuesday Aug 27, 2019. 10:00

UEFA Champions League striker Ben El Fardou, who is this week bidding to help his new club Red Star Belgrade qualify for the group stage, is back for the first time this year in the Comoros Islands squad for next week’s two-legged World Cup qualifying tie against Togo.

Also returning is Dutch-based left wing Said Bakari, who like El Fadou missed their last match in March when they were beaten by Cameroon 3-0 at the conclusion of the 2019 African Nations Cup qualifiers.

Comoros are looking for a first-ever World Cup victory at the start of the Qatar 2022 campaign as they host the first leg in Moroni on September 6 and then go to Lome for the return four days later.

Coach Ahmed Abdou handed first call-ups to 22-year-old centre back Safwan Mbae, who recently joined Monaco, and striker Ibroihim Djoudja, who plays for Namibia champions African Stars.

Out go captain Kassim Abdallah, 32, and midfielder Rafihdine Abdullah, 25, who are both clubless, as well as veteran striker Salim Mozini, 33, Abdallah Imamo and Aadail Asana.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Al Ahamada (Kongsvinger, Norway), Salim Ben Boina (Martigues, France)

Defenders: Chaker Alhadhur (Chateauroux, France), Ali Mohamed Abdallah (Olympique Marseille, France), Safwan Mbae (Monaco, France), Kassim Mdahoma (Bourg-en-Bresse, France), Bendjaloud Youssouf (AJ Auxerre, France), Camal Youssoufa (Bobigny, France)

Midfielders: Nadjim Abdou (Martigues, France), Fouad Bachirou (Malmö, Sweden), Said Bakari (RKC Waalwijk, Netherlands), Youssouf M’Changama (Grenoble, France), Ancoub Mze Ali (Racing Lens, France), Andhum Simba (Volcan Club)

Forwards: Ben El Fardou (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Nasser Chamed (Gaz Metan Medias, Romania), Ibroihim Djoudja (African Stars, Namibia), Ali M’Madi (Andrezieux, France), Faiz Selemani (Kortrijk, Belgium), Mohamed Youssouf (AJ Ajaccio, France)