This is the kind of story that will be remembered for years.
Chaker Alhadhur, defender of Ajaccio and the Comoros, will therefore have played goalkeeper during the round of 16 of a major international competition, the African Cup of Nations.
And not bad, either.
Guardian of fortune after the packages of the three doormen of the Comorian selection (two for Covid, the other for injury), the usual defender was, like his team, heroic during the narrow defeat against Cameroon.
Among the images that will remain in mind: that of his goalkeeper's shirt, with a wrong number crossed out by his usual number 3, roughly glued to the blue adhesive.
And then his few masterpieces, too.
The Comoros "keeper" was called upon on numerous occasions and made some high-class saves, including a double save that was as unacademic as it was impressive in the second half.
[📺LIVE] 🏆🌍 #CAN2021
🇨🇲🇰🇲 KFDKSGDBGHS ALHADHUR IT'S AMAZING!!!!
🔥🔥🔥 A spectacular double save that keeps Comoros in the game! https://t.co/3HA6xwnZUV
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 24, 2022
Alhadhur made other saves worthy of a true incumbent, including one from an overpowered header from the Indomitable Lions forwards.
Not enough to win, but certainly enough to earn the respect of the footballing world.
Despite the defeat, the two goals of which cannot be attributed to him, Alhadhur and the Comoros come out of this CAN with their "head held high".
[📺LIVE] 🏆🌍 #CAN2021
🇨🇲🇰🇲 ALHADHUR'S MAGNIFICENT PARADE!!!
🔥 The one-night goalkeeper from the Comoros makes a very nice reflex save on this head of Aboubakar! https://t.co/4I2C6aJOtF
— beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) January 24, 2022
"We knew it would be complicated," he explained to BeIN Sports.
I don't even know if this type of situation has ever existed!
But I'm only going to take the positives.
We can come out with dignity and with our heads held high from this CAN.
We can even be very proud of what we achieved in this competition.
We really did not deserve it!
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He is just magnificent and exceptional Chaker Alhadhur!
🔥🔥🇰🇲🇰🇲.
#CAN2021 #CAMCOM #TeamComoros pic.twitter.com/4tn1o8uJcK
— Laurent Pruneta (@PrunetaLaurent) January 24, 2022
If the evening was beautiful on the ground with this incredible scenario, it was however dramatic around the stadium.
At least eight people died and around 50 were injured in a stampede, authorities said.
According to the Ministry of Health, the stampede occurred at the southern entrance of the Olembé stadium in Yaoundé.
The victims were "immediately transported" in ambulances but "heavy road traffic slowed the transport", according to a report consulted by AFP.
