This is also the mark of champions. In addition to Senegal’s victory, it was undoubtedly the event that sparked the most comments during the African Cup of Nations, which ended on Sunday: the Comoros team, deprived of its three goalkeepers goal due to Covid-19, was forced, in the round of 16 against Cameroon on January 25, to send one of its defenders, Chaker Alhadhur, 1.71 meters, into the cages. He had never held this position in his life but made a series of memorable saves.
Fifteen days later, he auctioned the jersey he wore that evening for the benefit of charities. He announced it on Twitter, photo of the trophy in support: a blue jersey where a number 3 was taped over the 16 that he was forbidden to wear.
I had the chance to live an exceptional moment and it was important for me that this experience could benefit causes that are close to my heart. This is why I put on my Comoros goalkeeper jersey “taped on the back” worn in the round of 16 against the auction pic.twitter.com/bkCjhKZsP1
— Chaker Alhadhur (@Alhadhurchaker) February 8, 2022
Cameroon won the match 2-1: a score that does not reflect the epic journey of the Comoros, the panache, the determination and above all the resourcefulness, particularly embodied by Chaker Alhadhur. Until the last minute, he believed himself to be a defender, he believed that one of the goalkeepers would play, that the organizers would make an exception. It was when he saw his face on the stadium’s giant screen, just before kick-off, that he understood. We give him gloves and stick the famous number three on his back.
“Theconfides the native of Nantes to France Bleu, I understood that it is serious. At that moment, I feel terribly alone, I walk towards the goal and I say to myself: ‘What am I doing here?’“No time to meditate, the referee whistled the start of the match. Then began a series of improbable but devilishly effective stops from Alhadhur, with the head, the feet, and even an unspeakable somersault.
These monstrous saves from Chaker Alhadhur last night #TeamComoros pic.twitter.com/tnMvct7pRK
— Instant Foot ⚽️ (@lnstantFoot) January 25, 2022
Cameroon only score twice and Comoros come away with one of the most glorious defeats in football history, inspiring incredible excitement on social media for this team with very little means, representing one of the countries the poorest in Africa, 106th in the world’s GDP. Hence the gesture of Chaker Alhadhur, 30, who plays in Ligue 2 in France, in Ajaccio: sell this mythical jersey to be able to donate all the profits to associations in the Comoros. One helps orphans, the other builds access to drinking water. As the saying goes: “Superb gesture from the goalkeeper!”