Comoros national football team

The Comoros national football team represents the Comoros in international football and is controlled by the Comoros Football Federation.[2] It was formed in 1979, joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 2003, and became a FIFA member in 2005. Comoros qualified for their first major tournament in 2021, after their 0–0 draw with Togo assured them of a place in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.[3]

Comoros
Nickname(s)Les Coelacantes (The Coelacanths)
AssociationFédération de Football de Comores (FFC)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCOSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coachStefano Cusin
CaptainNadjim Abdou
Most capsYoussouf M'Changama (62)
Top scorerBen Nabouhane (18)
Home stadiumStade Omnisports de Malouzini
FIFA codeCOM
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 119 2 (20 June 2024)[1]
Highest117 (April 2024)
Lowest207 (December 2006)
First international
 Mauritius 3–0 Comoros 
(Saint-Denis, Réunion; 26 August 1979)
Biggest win
 Comoros 7–1 Seychelles 
(Mitsamiouli, Comoros; 1 September 2021)
Biggest defeat
Réunion 6–1 Comoros 
(Saint-Denis, Réunion; 31 August 1979)
 Madagascar 5–0 Comoros 
(Victoria, Seychelles; 20 August 1993)
 Mauritius 5–0 Comoros 
(Curepipe, Mauritius; 4 September 2003)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances1 (first in 2021)
Best resultRound of 16 (2021)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances6 (first in 2008)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2019)

History

The national football team of the Comoros played their first matches in the 1979 Indian Ocean Island Games. Those were the only games they played until qualification for the 2009 Arab Nations Cup in 2006. Those two matches were their first two matches with full FIFA recognition, and included a 4–2 victory over Djibouti. In 2007, Comoros first entered qualification for the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations for the 2010 tournaments, but lost in the preliminary round 2–10 on aggregate to Madagascar.

During the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in October 2015, Les Coelacantes advanced past the first round for the first time ever by beating Lesotho on away goals after two draws. Since then results have improved steadily, including home wins against Botswana, Mauritius and Malawi in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

On 14 November 2019, Comoros opened their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign with a 0–1 win away to Togo, their first away win in a major qualifier. They would go on to qualify for the final tournament, their first major tournament since joining FIFA.[3]

In the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Ahmed Mogni scored a brace for Comoros in their 3–2 group match victory over Ghana in what the BBC described as "one of the biggest shocks in Nations Cup history".[4]

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Comoros started off strong within Group I after they won 4–2 against Central African Republic and 1–0 against Ghana, with both games being played at home.[5]

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

6 July 2023 COSAFA Cup Seychelles  0–3  Comoros Durban
15:00 Report
Stadium: King Zwelithini Stadium
11 July 2023 COSAFA Cup Malawi  2–0  Comoros Durban
15:00
  • Kaonga 30' (pen.)
  • Mwaungulu 36'
Report Stadium: Chatsworth Stadium
9 September 2023 AFCON qualification Comoros  1–1  Zambia Moroni, Comoros
22:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Stade Omnisports de Malouzini
Referee: Pacifique Ndabihawenimana (Burundi)
17 October Friendly Cape Verde  1–2  Comoros Istres, France
Stadium: Stade Parsemain
17 November 2026 World Cup Qualification Comoros  4–2  Central African Republic Moroni, Comoros
16:00 UTC+3
Report
Stadium: Stade de Moroni
Referee: Ibrahim Kalilou Traore (Ivory Coast)
21 November 2026 World Cup Qualification Comoros  1–0  Ghana Moroni, Comoros
19:00 UTC+3
Report Stadium: Stade de Moroni
Attendance: 11,628
Referee: Abdel Aziz Mohamed Bouh (Mauritania)

2024

22 March Friendly Comoros  4–0  Uganda Marrakech, Morocco
21:00 UTC±0
Report Stadium: Stade de Marrakech
25 March Friendly Comoros  0–0  Angola Marrakech, Morocco
22:00 Report Stadium: Stade de Marrakech
7 June 2026 World Cup qualification Madagascar  2–1  Comoros Johannesburg, South Africa
18:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: FNB Stadium
Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo)
11 June 2026 World Cup qualification Chad  0–2  Comoros Oujda, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1 Report
Stadium: Stade Municipal d'Oujda
Referee: Adalbert Diouf (Senegal)
27 June 2024 COSAFA Cup Comoros  v  Zimbabwe Gqeberha, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2 Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
30 June 2024 COSAFA Cup Kenya  v  Comoros Gqeberha, South Africa
12:00 UTC+2 Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium
2 July 2024 COSAFA Cup Comoros  v  Zambia Gqeberha, South Africa
12:00 UTC+2 Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

2025

Coaching history

Coaching staff

Position Name
Head coach Stefano Cusin
Assistant coaches Davide Cusin
Aboubakar Houmadi
Goalkeeping coach Faisal Soilihi
Fitness coach Youssouf Omar
Match analyst Said Hamadi
Technical director Ali Mbaé Camara

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Central African Republic and Ghana on 17 and 21 November 2023.[6]

Caps and goals correct as of 21 November 2023, after the match against  Ghana.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Salim Ben Boina (1991-07-19) 19 July 1991 22 0 Épinal
1GK Yannick Pandor (2001-05-01) 1 May 2001 3 0 Lens
1GK Adel Anzimati-Aboudou (2001-11-05) 5 November 2001 1 0 US Quevilly B

2DF Mohamed Youssouf (1988-03-26) 26 March 1988 40 3 Ajaccio
2DF Saïd Bakari (1994-09-22) 22 September 1994 34 0 Sparta Rotterdam
2DF Kassim M'Dahoma (1997-01-26) 26 January 1997 27 1 GOAL FC
2DF Younn Zahary (1998-10-08) 8 October 1998 16 0 Mezőkövesd
2DF Ahmed Soilihi (1996-07-01) 1 July 1996 10 0 Martigues
2DF Abdel-Hakim Abdallah (1997-08-18) 18 August 1997 7 0 Rodez
2DF Yahaya Médard (2000-01-14) 14 January 2000 1 0 FCM Aubervilliers

3MF Youssouf M'Changama (1990-08-29) 29 August 1990 59 12 Troyes
3MF Benjaloud Youssouf (1994-02-11) 11 February 1994 42 4 Dunkerque
3MF Yacine Bourhane (1998-09-30) 30 September 1998 17 0 Esbjerg
3MF Haslane Alfonsi Ahmed (2001-12-28) 28 December 2001 5 0 Volcan Club
3MF Aymeric Ahmed (2003-11-08) 8 November 2003 4 0 Virton
3MF Raïmane Daou (2004-11-20) 20 November 2004 2 0 Olympique Marseille B
3MF Zainou Dine Mohamed (2000-06-16) 16 June 2000 2 0 Rousset SVO
3MF Kassim Hadji (2000-03-23) 23 March 2000 2 0 Ararat Yerevan

4FW Ibroihim Youssouf (1994-05-06) 6 May 1994 38 8 TS Sporting
4FW Ahmed Mogni (1991-10-10) 10 October 1991 30 4 Jeunesse Esch
4FW Faïz Selemani (1993-11-14) 14 November 1993 28 4 Al-Hazem
4FW Adel Mahamoud (2003-02-04) 4 February 2003 4 1 Nantes B
4FW Myziane Maolida (1999-02-14) 14 February 1999 2 2 Hertha BSC II
4FW Rafiki Saïd (2000-03-15) 15 March 2000 2 1 Troyes

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Salimo Velonjara (1988-11-10) 10 November 1988 16 0 Volcan Club 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
GK Ali Ahamada (1991-08-19) 19 August 1991 36 0 Azam v.  Lesotho, 17 June 2023
GK Moustoifa Ali Soilihi (1993-11-09) 9 November 1993 0 0 Ouani 2023 COSAFA Cup
GK Salim Ibrahim Youssouf (1993-11-30) 30 November 1993 0 0 Belle Lumière 2023 COSAFA Cup

DF Abdallah Ali Mohamed (1999-04-11) 11 April 1999 21 1 Lausanne Ouchy v.  Zambia, 9 September 2023
DF Soulaimana Malaga (1989-04-05) 5 April 1989 23 1 Etoile du Centre 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
DF Mohammad Zamir (1995-10-28) 28 October 1995 16 0 Volcan Club 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
DF Bakri Youssouf (1996-07-01) 1 July 1996 14 0 Djabal 2023 COSAFA Cup
DF Abdallah Allaoui (1987-07-23) 23 July 1987 10 0 Volcan Club 2023 COSAFA Cup
DF Aboubacar Said Abdallah (1995-01-10) 10 January 1995 2 0 Volcan Club 2023 COSAFA Cup
DF Mohamed Salim Moustoifa (2002-07-29) 29 July 2002 0 0 Djabal 2023 COSAFA Cup
DF Hassan Ali Mchangama (1997-12-31) 31 December 1997 0 0 Belle Lumière 2023 COSAFA Cup
DF Madi Salim Houmadi (1998-06-19) 19 June 1998 0 0 Ngazi Sport 2023 COSAFA Cup

MF Fouad Bachirou (1990-04-15) 15 April 1990 41 0 Omonia v.  Zambia, 9 September 2023
MF Faouz Faidine Attoumane (1994-01-04) 4 January 1994 29 0 Nouadhibou 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
MF Raidou Boina Bacar (1992-08-04) 4 August 1992 21 3 Zilimadjou 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
MF Mohamadou Ibrahim Cheikh (1997-08-08) 8 August 1997 6 1 Etoile des Comores 2023 COSAFA Cup
MF Salim Nassur Bakari (2001-12-28) 28 December 2001 5 0 Volcan Club 2023 COSAFA Cup
MF Omar Youssouf Houssam (1992-07-22) 22 July 1992 3 0 Djabal 2023 COSAFA Cup
MF Said Abdallah Bacar (1997-08-08) 8 August 1997 1 0 Zilimadjou 2023 COSAFA Cup

FW Ali M'Madi (1990-04-21) 21 April 1990 34 0 SAS Épinal v.  Zambia, 9 September 2023
FW Soiyir Sanali (2002-01-20) January 20, 2002 2 0 SO Romorantin v.  Zambia, 9 September 2023
FW William Vouama (1996-11-12) November 12, 1996 2 0 FC Fleury 91 v.  Zambia, 9 September 2023
FW Ibouniyamine Soulaimana (1999-05-10) 10 May 1999 17 1 Bazimini 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
FW Moustoifa Ibrahim Hamid (1996-06-06) 6 June 1996 8 0 Volcan Club 2023 COSAFA Cup
FW Amir Youssouf Hamadi (1998-08-02) 2 August 1998 3 0 Djabal 2023 COSAFA Cup
FW Omar Ahmed Soilihi (2000-09-22) 22 September 2000 3 2 Djabal 2023 COSAFA Cup
FW Ibrahim Aboubacar Mohamed (1992-08-20) 20 August 1992 0 0 Zilimadjou 2023 COSAFA Cup

Player records

As of 21 November 2023[7]
Players in bold are still active with the Comoros.

Most appearances

Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Youssouf M'Changama 59 12 2010–present
2 Benjaloud Youssouf 42 4 2015–present
3 Fouad Bachirou 41 0 2014–present
4 Nadjim Abdou 40 0 2010–present
Mohamed Youssouf 40 3 2011–present
6 Ibroihim Youssouf 38 8 2017–present
7 Ben Nabouhane 37 17 2014–present
8 Ali Ahamada 36 0 2016–present
9 Saïd Bakari 34 0 2017–present
Ali M'Madi 34 0 2010–present

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Ben Nabouhane 17 37 0.46 2014–present
2 Youssouf M'Changama 12 59 0.2 2010–present
3 Ibroihim Youssouf 8 38 0.21 2017–present
4 Faïz Selemani 4 28 0.14 2017–present
Ahmed Mogni 4 30 0.13 2015–present
Benjaloud Youssouf 4 42 0.1 2015–present
7 Ali Nassim M'Changama 3 11 0.27 2019–present
Raïdou Boina Bacar 3 21 0.14 2015–present
Mohamed Youssouf 3 40 0.08 2011–present
10 Myziane Maolida 2 2 1 2023–present
Soulaimane Athoumane 2 3 0.67 2011
Affane Djambae 2 3 0.67 2023–present
Ahmed Saïd Anfane 2 4 0.5 2006–2011
Faiz Mattoir 2 11 0.18 2020–present
Mohamed Mouigni 2 11 0.18 2003–2010
Abdallah Saïd Sadad 2 11 0.18 2019–present
Djamel Bakar 2 16 0.13 2016–2018
Mohamed M'Changama 2 20 0.1 2010–2021

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup Qualification
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1974Part of  FrancePart of  France
1978 to 2006Not affiliated with FIFANot affiliated with FIFA
2010Did not qualify2002210
2014200215
2018403113
2022201113
2026To be determined430184
2030 To be determined
2034
Total 0/4 14 3 4 7 13 25

Olympic Games

Olympic Games record
Appearances: 0
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1900 to 1972Part of  France (FRA)
1976 to 1992Not affiliated with the IOC
1996 to 2004Not affiliated with FIFA
2008Did not enter
2012
2016
2020
2024To be determined
Total0/27
  • Football at the Summer Olympics has been an under-23 tournament since the 1992 edition.

Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
1957Part of  France Part of  France
1959
1962
1963
1965
1968
1970
1974
1976 Not a member of CAF Not a member of CAF
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004Did not enter Did not enter
2006
2008
2010Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 2 10
2012 6 0 1 5 2 14
2013Did not enter Did not enter
2015 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 1 2
2017 6 1 0 5 2 7
2019 8 2 3 3 8 10
2021Round of 1616th410347Squad 6 2 3 1 4 6
2023Did not qualify 6 2 1 3 6 8
2025 To be determined To be determined
2027
Total Round of 16 1/34 4 1 0 3 4 7 36 7 9 20 25 57

African Games

African Games record
Appearances: 0
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1965 to 1973Part of  France (FRA)
1978 to 1991Not affiliated with the IOC
1995Did not enter
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
Total0/12

African Nations Championship

African Nations Championship record African Nations Championship Qulaification record
Appearances: 0 Appearances: 5
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
2009Did not enterDid not enter
2011
2014Did not qualify201102
2016201102
2018420244
2020201102
2022201101
2024To be determinedTo be determined
Total-0/700000012246411

COSAFA Cup

COSAFA Cup record
Appearances: 6
YearRoundResultPldWDLGFGA
1997 to 2007Not affiliated with COSAFA
2008Group stage11th300305
20095th311124
2010Cancelled
2013Did not enter
2015
2016
2017
2018Group stage12th301215
2019Quarter-finals8th311145
2020Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021Withdrew
2022Group stage12th310235
20238th310244
TotalQuarter-finals6/221843111428

Indian Ocean Island Games

Indian Ocean Island Games record
Appearances: 10
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1979Bronze medalists3rd4103412
1985Bronze medalists3rd311143
1990Fourth place4th410328
1993Group Stage5th200208
19985th200206
2003Fourth place4th4004012
2007Group stage6th201114
20115th302124
20157th200206
20195th32014 2
2023 Fourth place 4th 4 0 2 2 3 7
TotalBronze medalists11/113356222072

Arab Nations Cup/FIFA Arab Cup

FIFA Arab Cup record FIFA Arab Cup qualification record
Appearances: 0
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1963Part of  FrancePart of  France
1964
1966
1985Did not enterDid not enter
1988
1992
1998WithdrewWithdrew
2002Did not enterDid not enter
2009Did not qualify 1 2 1 0 1 4 3
2012 Did not enter Did not enter
2021Did not qualify 1 0 0 1 1 5
Total0/10 3 1 0 2 5 8

^1 The 2009 edition was cancelled during qualification.

Arab Games

Arab Games record
Appearances: 0
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
1953 to 1965Part of  France (FRA)
1976 to 1992Not affiliated with the UANOC
1997Did not enter
1999
2004No tournament
2007Did not enter
2011
Total0/11

Head-to-head record

As of 7 June 2024

Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD
 Angola 2 0 1 1 1 3 –2
 Botswana 3 1 0 2 2 3 –1
 Burkina Faso 4 0 1 3 2 6 −4
 Burundi 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
 Cameroon 3 0 1 2 2 6 −4
 Cape Verde 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1
 Central African Republic 1 1 0 0 4 2 +2
 Djibouti 1 1 0 0 4 2 +2
 Egypt 2 0 1 1 0 4 −4
 Eswatini 2 0 1 1 2 +5 −3
 Ethiopia 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1
 Gabon 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1
 Ghana 4 2 1 1 4 4 0
 Guinea 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
 Ivory Coast 3 0 0 3 2 8 −6
 Kenya 5 1 3 1 6 6 0
 Lesotho 5 2 2 1 4 2 2
 Libya 3 1 1 1 3 5 −2
 Madagascar 10 0 1 9 4 27 −23
 Malawi 5 1 0 4 3 7 −4
 Maldives 4 2 2 0 9 5 +4
 Mali 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
 Mauritania 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
 Mauritius 9 2 1 6 6 22 −16
 Mayotte 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2
 Morocco 3 0 1 2 2 5 −3
 Mozambique 5 0 0 5 1 12 −11
 Namibia 3 1 0 2 2 6 −4
 Palestine 1 0 0 1 1 5 −4
 Réunion 7 2 1 4 4 13 −9
 South Africa 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1
 Seychelles 6 4 2 0 15 4 +11
 Sierra Leone 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
 Togo 6 1 3 2 4 7 −3
 Tunisia 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1
 Uganda 3 1 0 2 4 2 +2
 Yemen 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2
 Zambia 5 0 1 4 4 11 −7
 Zimbabwe 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2
36 Countries11225256290183−93

References

  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  2. Vickers, Steve (24 October 2009). "BBC SPORT | Football | African | Comoros make steps forward". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2013.
  3. "Comoros achieve fairytale Nations Cup qualification". BBC Sport. 25 March 2021. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  4. Stevens, Rob (18 January 2022). "Ghana dumped out of Afcon by Comoros". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  5. "World Cup 2026 qualifying: Ghana shocked by Comoros, Senegal and Cameroon held". BBC News. 21 November 2023. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  6. "La Liste". Twitter. Comoros Football 269. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  7. Zimmerman, Benjamin. "Comoros". National Football Teams.
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