Football: French flavour to rare Comoros victory
Bukina's player Aristide Bance (C) vies with Comores' players Nadjim Abdou (L) and Youssouf Ncham (R) during the 2017 African Cup of Nations qualification football match between Burkina Faso and Comores, on June 13, 2015 in Ouagadougou. (AFP PHOTO / AHMED OUOBA )
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(AFP) - France-born defenders scored the goals that gave Comoros a rare international victory Friday as they beat Mauritius 2-0 in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Marseille-born Benjaloud Youssouf netted after 65 minutes and Nantes-born Chaker Alhadur 15 minutes later in northwestern town Mitsamiouli.
It was only the second victory for the Comorans in 17 Cup of Nations qualifiers since debuting in 2007 -- the first came last year against Botswana.
Youssouf plays for second-tier Orleans and Alhadur for top-flight Caen in a team packed with France-based footballers.
Both qualify to represent the island state off the southeast coast of Africa through Comoran parents.
Mauritius, who are 44th in the African rankings and one place below the Comoros, host the return match in Belle Vue Tuesday.
The overall winners join title-holders Cameroon, Morocco and Malawi in Group B with the first matchday scheduled for June.
© Agence France-Presse
