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Comoros national football team facts for kids

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Comoros
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Les Coelacantes (The Coelacanths)
Association Fédération de Football de Comores (FFC)
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation COSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coach Stefano Cusin
Captain Nadjim Abdou
Most caps Youssouf M'Changama (60)
Top scorer Ben Nabouhane (17)
Home stadium Stade Omnisports de Malouzini
FIFA code COM
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 142 Increase 1 (7 February 2019)
Highest 117 (April 2024)
Lowest 207 (December 2006)
Elo ranking
Current 179 Increase 7 (3 March 2019)
Highest 172 (August 1979)
Lowest 208 (September 2003)
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 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
Appearances 1 (first in 2021)
Best result Round of 16 (2021)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances 6 (first in 2008)
Best result Quarter-finals (2019)

The Comoros national football team represents the Comoros in international football and is controlled by the Comoros Football Federation. 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.

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.

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".

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Comoros are currently the only unbeaten team within Group I after they won 4-2 against Central African Republic and 1-0 against Ghana, with both games being played at home.

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

2024

Coaching history

  • France Pierre Jacky (1985)
  • Comoros Ali Mbaé Camara (2006–2007)
  • France Manuel Amoros (2010)
  • Comoros Mohamed Chamité (2010–2011)
  • Comoros Ali Mbaé Camara (2011–2013)
  • France Amir Abdou (2014–2022)
  • France Younes Zerdouk (2022–2023)
  • Italy Stefano Cusin (2023–present)

Coaching staff

Position Name
Head coach Italy Stefano Cusin
Assistant coaches Italy Davide Cusin
Comoros Aboubakar Houmadi
Goalkeeping coach Comoros Faisal Soilihi
Fitness coach Comoros Youssouf Omar
Match analyst Comoros Said Hamadi
Technical director Comoros 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.

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 (age 33) 22 0 France Épinal
1GK Yannick Pandor (2001-05-01) 1 May 2001 (age 23) 3 0 France Lens
1GK Adel Anzimati-Aboudou (2001-11-05) 5 November 2001 (age 23) 1 0 France US Quevilly B

2DF Mohamed Youssouf (1988-03-26) 26 March 1988 (age 36) 40 3 France Ajaccio
2DF Saïd Bakari (1994-09-22) 22 September 1994 (age 30) 34 0 Netherlands Sparta Rotterdam
2DF Kassim M'Dahoma (1997-01-26) 26 January 1997 (age 27) 27 1 France GOAL FC
2DF Younn Zahary (1998-10-08) 8 October 1998 (age 26) 16 0 Hungary Mezőkövesd
2DF Ahmed Soilihi (1996-07-01) 1 July 1996 (age 28) 10 0 France Martigues
2DF Abdel-Hakim Abdallah (1997-08-18) 18 August 1997 (age 27) 7 0 France Rodez
2DF Yahaya Médard (2000-01-14) 14 January 2000 (age 24) 1 0 France FCM Aubervilliers

3MF Youssouf M'Changama (1990-08-29) 29 August 1990 (age 34) 59 12 France Troyes
3MF Benjaloud Youssouf (1994-02-11) 11 February 1994 (age 30) 42 4 France Dunkerque
3MF Yacine Bourhane (1998-09-30) 30 September 1998 (age 26) 17 0 Denmark Esbjerg
3MF Haslane Alfonsi Ahmed (2001-12-28) 28 December 2001 (age 22) 5 0 Comoros Volcan Club
3MF Aymeric Ahmed (2003-11-08) 8 November 2003 (age 21) 4 0 Belgium Virton
3MF Raïmane Daou (2004-11-20) 20 November 2004 (age 20) 2 0 France Olympique Marseille B
3MF Zainou Dine Mohamed (2000-06-16) 16 June 2000 (age 24) 2 0 France Rousset SVO
3MF Kassim Hadji (2000-03-23) 23 March 2000 (age 24) 2 0 Armenia Ararat Yerevan

4FW Ibroihim Youssouf (1994-05-06) 6 May 1994 (age 30) 38 8 South Africa TS Sporting
4FW Ahmed Mogni (1991-10-10) 10 October 1991 (age 33) 30 4 Luxembourg Jeunesse Esch
4FW Faïz Selemani (1993-11-14) 14 November 1993 (age 31) 28 4 Saudi Arabia Al-Hazem
4FW Adel Mahamoud (2003-02-04) 4 February 2003 (age 21) 4 1 France Nantes B
4FW Myziane Maolida (1999-02-14) 14 February 1999 (age 25) 2 2 Germany Hertha BSC II
4FW Rafiki Saïd (2000-03-15) 15 March 2000 (age 24) 2 1 France 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 (age 36) 16 0 Comoros Volcan Club 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
GK Ali Ahamada (1991-08-19) 19 August 1991 (age 33) 36 0 Tanzania Azam v.  Lesotho, 17 June 2023
GK Moustoifa Ali Soilihi (1993-11-09) 9 November 1993 (age 31) 0 0 Comoros Ouani 2023 COSAFA Cup
GK Salim Ibrahim Youssouf (1993-11-30) 30 November 1993 (age 30) 0 0 Comoros Belle Lumière 2023 COSAFA Cup

DF Abdallah Ali Mohamed (1999-04-11) 11 April 1999 (age 25) 21 1 Switzerland Lausanne Ouchy v.  Zambia, 9 September 2023
DF Soulaimana Malaga (1989-04-05) 5 April 1989 (age 35) 23 1 Comoros Etoile du Centre 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
DF Mohammad Zamir (1995-10-28) 28 October 1995 (age 29) 16 0 Comoros Volcan Club 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
DF Bakri Youssouf (1996-07-01) 1 July 1996 (age 28) 14 0 Comoros Djabal 2023 COSAFA Cup
DF Abdallah Allaoui (1987-07-23) 23 July 1987 (age 37) 10 0 Comoros Volcan Club 2023 COSAFA Cup
DF Aboubacar Said Abdallah (1995-01-10) 10 January 1995 (age 29) 2 0 Comoros Volcan Club 2023 COSAFA Cup
DF Mohamed Salim Moustoifa (2002-07-29) 29 July 2002 (age 22) 0 0 Comoros Djabal 2023 COSAFA Cup
DF Hassan Ali Mchangama (1997-12-31) 31 December 1997 (age 26) 0 0 Comoros Belle Lumière 2023 COSAFA Cup
DF Madi Salim Houmadi (1998-06-19) 19 June 1998 (age 26) 0 0 Comoros Ngazi Sport 2023 COSAFA Cup
DF Karim Attoumani (2001-03-24) 24 March 2001 (age 23) 3 0 France Dijon v.  Lesotho, 17 June 2023
DF Akim Djaha (1998-09-14) 14 September 1998 (age 26) 3 0 France Martigues v.  Ivory Coast, 28 March 2023
DF Yakine Said M'Madi (2004-03-11) 11 March 2004 (age 20) 2 0 France Marseille v.  Ivory Coast, 28 March 2023
DF Ismaël Boura (2000-08-14) 14 August 2000 (age 24) 0 0 France Troyes v.  Ivory Coast, 28 March 2023

MF Fouad Bachirou (1990-04-15) 15 April 1990 (age 34) 41 0 Cyprus Omonia v.  Zambia, 9 September 2023
MF Faouz Faidine Attoumane (1994-01-04) 4 January 1994 (age 30) 29 0 Mauritania Nouadhibou 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
MF Raidou Boina Bacar (1992-08-04) 4 August 1992 (age 32) 21 3 Comoros Zilimadjou 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
MF Mohamadou Ibrahim Cheikh (1997-08-08) 8 August 1997 (age 27) 6 1 Comoros Etoile des Comores 2023 COSAFA Cup
MF Salim Nassur Bakari (2001-12-28) 28 December 2001 (age 22) 5 0 Comoros Volcan Club 2023 COSAFA Cup
MF Omar Youssouf Houssam (1992-07-22) 22 July 1992 (age 32) 3 0 Comoros Djabal 2023 COSAFA Cup
MF Said Abdallah Bacar (1997-08-08) 8 August 1997 (age 27) 1 0 Comoros Zilimadjou 2023 COSAFA Cup
MF Halifa Soulé (1990-11-12) 12 November 1990 (age 34) 10 0 France Béziers v.  Lesotho, 17 June 2023
MF Iyad Mohamed (2001-03-05) 5 March 2001 (age 23) 9 0 France Le Mans v.  Lesotho, 17 June 2023

FW Ali M'Madi (1990-04-21) 21 April 1990 (age 34) 34 0 France SAS Épinal v.  Zambia, 9 September 2023
FW Soiyir Sanali (2002-01-20) January 20, 2002 (age 22) 2 0 France SO Romorantin v.  Zambia, 9 September 2023
FW William Vouama (1996-11-12) November 12, 1996 (age 28) 2 0 France FC Fleury 91 v.  Zambia, 9 September 2023
FW Ibouniyamine Soulaimana (1999-05-10) 10 May 1999 (age 25) 17 1 Comoros Bazimini 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
FW Moustoifa Ibrahim Hamid (1996-06-06) 6 June 1996 (age 28) 8 0 Comoros Volcan Club 2023 COSAFA Cup
FW Amir Youssouf Hamadi (1998-08-02) 2 August 1998 (age 26) 3 0 Comoros Djabal 2023 COSAFA Cup
FW Omar Ahmed Soilihi (2000-09-22) 22 September 2000 (age 24) 3 2 Comoros Djabal 2023 COSAFA Cup
FW Ibrahim Aboubacar Mohamed (1992-08-20) 20 August 1992 (age 32) 0 0 Comoros Zilimadjou 2023 COSAFA Cup
FW El Fardou Ben Nabouhane (1989-06-10) 10 June 1989 (age 35) 37 17 Cyprus APOEL v.  Ivory Coast, 28 March 2023

Player records

Players in bold are still active with the Comoros.

Most appearances

RC Lens - Grenoble Foot 38 (24-11-2018) 103
Youssouf M'Changama is Comoros' most capped player with 57 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

CSKA-CZ (8)
Ben Nabouhane is Comoros' top scorer with 17 goals.
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 1974 Part of  France Part of  France
1978 to 2006 Not affiliated with FIFA Not affiliated with FIFA
South Africa 2010 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 2 10
Brazil 2014 2 0 0 2 1 5
Russia 2018 4 0 3 1 1 3
Qatar 2022 2 0 1 1 1 3
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined 2 2 0 0 5 2
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0/4 11 1 4 6 10 23

Olympic Games

Olympic Games record
Appearances: 0
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
France 1900 to West Germany 1972 Part of  France (FRA)
Canada 1976 to Spain 1992 Not affiliated with the IOC
United States 1996 to Greece 2004 Not affiliated with FIFA
China 2008 Did not enter
United Kingdom 2012
Brazil 2016
Japan 2020
France 2024 To be determined
Total 0/27
  • 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
Sudan 1957 Part of  France Part of  France
United Arab Republic 1959
Ethiopia 1962
Ghana 1963
Tunisia 1965
Ethiopia 1968
Sudan 1970
Egypt 1974
Ethiopia 1976 Not a member of CAF Not a member of CAF
Ghana 1978
Nigeria 1980
Libya 1982
Ivory Coast 1984
Egypt 1986
Morocco 1988
Algeria 1990
Senegal 1992
Tunisia 1994
South Africa 1996
Burkina Faso 1998
Ghana Nigeria 2000
Mali 2002
Tunisia 2004 Did not enter Did not enter
Egypt 2006
Ghana 2008
Angola 2010 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 2 10
Equatorial Guinea Gabon 2012 6 0 1 5 2 14
South Africa 2013 Did not enter Did not enter
Equatorial Guinea 2015 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 1 2
Gabon 2017 6 1 0 5 2 7
Egypt 2019 8 2 3 3 8 10
Cameroon 2021 Round of 16 16th 4 1 0 3 4 7 Squad 6 2 3 1 4 6
Ivory Coast 2023 Did not qualify 6 2 1 3 6 8
Morocco 2025 To be determined To be determined
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 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
Republic of the Congo 1965 to Nigeria 1973 Part of  France (FRA)
Algeria 1978 to Egypt 1991 Not affiliated with the IOC
Zimbabwe 1995 Did not enter
South Africa 1999
Nigeria 2003
Algeria 2007
Mozambique 2011
Republic of the Congo 2015
Morocco 2019
Total 0/12
  • Prior to the Cairo 1991 campaign, Football at the All-Africa Games was open to full senior national teams.

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
Ivory Coast 2009 Did not enter Did not enter
Sudan 2011
South Africa 2014 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 0 2
Rwanda 2016 2 0 1 1 0 2
Morocco 2018 4 2 0 2 4 4
Cameroon 2020 2 0 1 1 0 2
Algeria 2022 2 0 1 1 0 1
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2024 To be determined To be determined
Total - 0/7 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 2 4 6 4 11

COSAFA Cup

COSAFA Cup record
Appearances: 6
Year Round Result Pld W D L GF GA
1997 to 2007 Not affiliated with COSAFA
South Africa 2008 Group stage 11th 3 0 0 3 0 5
Zimbabwe 2009 5th 3 1 1 1 2 4
Angola 2010 Cancelled
Zambia 2013 Did not enter
South Africa 2015
Namibia 2016
South Africa 2017
South Africa 2018 Group stage 12th 3 0 1 2 1 5
South Africa 2019 Quarter-finals 8th 3 1 1 1 4 5
South Africa 2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
South Africa 2021 Withdrew
South Africa 2022 Group stage 12th 3 1 0 2 3 5
South Africa 2023 8th 3 1 0 2 4 4
Total Quarter-finals 6/22 18 4 3 11 14 28

Indian Ocean Island Games

Indian Ocean Island Games record
Appearances: 10
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA
Réunion 1979 Bronze medalists 3rd 4 1 0 3 4 12
Mauritius 1985 Bronze medalists 3rd 3 1 1 1 4 3
Madagascar 1990 Fourth place 4th 4 1 0 3 2 8
Seychelles 1993 Group Stage 5th 2 0 0 2 0 8
Réunion 1998 5th 2 0 0 2 0 6
Mauritius 2003 Fourth place 4th 4 0 0 4 0 12
Madagascar 2007 Group stage 6th 2 0 1 1 1 4
Seychelles 2011 5th 3 0 2 1 2 4
Réunion 2015 7th 2 0 0 2 0 6
Mauritius 2019 5th 3 2 0 1 4 2
Madagascar 2023 Fourth place 4th 4 0 2 2 3 7
Total Bronze medalists 11/11 33 5 6 22 20 72

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
Lebanon 1963 Part of  France Part of  France
Kuwait 1964
Iraq 1966
Saudi Arabia 1985 Did not enter Did not enter
Jordan 1988
Syria 1992
Qatar 1998 Withdrew Withdrew
Kuwait 2002 Did not enter Did not enter
2009 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 4 3
Saudi Arabia 2012 Did not enter Did not enter
Qatar 2021 Did not qualify 1 0 0 1 1 5
Total 0/10 3 1 0 2 5 8

The 2009 edition was cancelled during qualification.

Arab Games

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

Head-to-head record

As of 24 January 2022

Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD
 Botswana 2 1 0 1 2 2 0
 Burkina Faso 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3
 Burundi 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
 Cameroon 3 0 1 2 2 6 −4
 Djibouti 1 1 0 0 4 2 +2
 Egypt 2 0 1 1 0 4 −4
 Eswatini 2 0 1 1 2 5 −3
 Gabon 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1
 Ghana 3 1 1 1 3 4 −1
 Guinea 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1
 Ivory Coast 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2
 Kenya 5 1 3 1 6 6 0
 Lesotho 3 0 2 1 1 2 −1
 Libya 3 1 1 1 3 5 −2
 Madagascar 9 0 1 8 3 25 −22
 Malawi 4 1 0 3 3 5 −2
 Maldives 4 2 2 0 9 5 +4
 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
 [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]] 1 0 0 1 1 5 −4
 Réunion 7 2 1 4 4 13 −9
 Seychelles 4 2 2 0 10 3 +7
 Sierra Leone 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2
 Togo 6 1 3 2 4 7 −3
 Uganda 2 0 0 2 0 2 −2
 Yemen 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2
 Zambia 2 0 0 2 1 6 −5
 Zimbabwe 1 0 0 1 0 2 −2
29 Countries 89 16 22 51 62 156 −93

See also

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