Comoros seek first win at COSAFA Under-17 Girls’ Championship

Comoros return for a fifth time to the COSAFA Under-17 Girls’ Championship, an illustration of their commitment to develop the women’s game on the island.

The only tournament they have missed was the COVID-19 affected 2021 season when international travel restrictions played havoc with participants’ plans.

They did make progress in December last year when they picked up a first point in the group stages after holding Eswatini to a 0-0 draw but will now be looking to add that with a maiden victory.

They are in Group A this time round with hosts Namibia and Malawi, certainly not an easy pool, but they will want to showcase the improvement of the side and make an impression at this age-group level.

In total they have that single draw from 11 games at the competition, scoring four goals to go with 93 conceded, but there has been progression over the years in bringing more structure to the side.

They conceded 40 goals in three games in 2019, 20 in three games in 2020, 18 in two games in 2022 and 15 in three games in 2024, so the improvement is there to be seen.

At the other end of the pitch they did not manage a goal in 2022 or 2024 and are currently on a seven-game streak where they have not found the back of the net, since a 3-2 loss to Zimbabwe in 2020, where they let a 2-0 lead slip in the final 12 minutes.

The team would like to get to the stage where they are entering and competing in the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, and that can only come with continued development and competition in the likes of the COSAFA Under-17 Girls’ Championship.

Tournament finishes:
2019 – Group Stages
2020 – Group Stages
2021 – Did not enter
2022 – Group Stages
2023 – Not played
2024 – Group Stages

All-time match record:
P11 W0 D1 L10 GF4 GA93

Biggest victory: –
Biggest defeat: 0-20 vs Uganda (Group Stage, 24/09/2019)

ALL-TIME GOALSCORERS
1 goal – Moinahedji Ali, Anllaouia Hadhirami Ali, Abdourahmane Hairyat, Zaharouna Haoudadji