Left-back Chaker Alhadhur featured in the starting lineup of
Comoros as a stand-in goalkeeper following a Covid-19 outbreak in the squad
against the hosts in the knockout stages of the continental championships.
His name was printed on the goalkeeper shirt in time for
kick-off, but his squad number had simply been taped to his shirt.
Alhadhur performed some heroic saves against the hosts but
ultimately the debutants went down 2-1 after a tense match to exit the
tournament in style.
CAF has now clamped down on Alhadur shirt irregularity with
a fine. They also fined the islanders $2,000 for delaying kick-off by two
minutes and slapped Comoros with a $10,000 fine for not respecting Covid-19
protocols.
The match was first marred in controversy as Comoros
goalkeeper Ali Ahamada had tested negative on the morning of the match.
CAF rules state, however, that a player who tests positive
for the coronavirus must isolate for five days, The match was then overshadowed
by tragedy as eight supporters were crushed to death in a crowd surge as fans
tried to enter the Olembe Stadium.
The fines will be perceived as petty from an embattled
governing body after Comoros provided the tournament with a fairy tale. In the
first round, they had eliminated West African powerhouses Ghana from the
competition with a memorable 3-2 victory.