Comoros completed the double over Lesotho in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after a late goal secured a narrow 1-0 win at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday evening.
Younes Zerdouk's side needed victory to keep their slim qualification hopes alive and Youssouf M'Changama duly delivered when he struck in the final minute, although they would ultimately be eliminated after Zambia beat Ivory Coast 3-0 in Ndola.
The Coelacanths moved onto six points in the group courtesy of their second win in qualifying, but the Copper Bullets sealed their fate by stunning the Afcon 2023 hosts an hour earlier.
The visitors enjoyed the lion's share of the possession in the first half and created numerous chances as Veselin Jelusic's side were forced to do a lot of defending.
Comoros made a bright start, carving out three openings inside the first five minutes of the game. Younn Zahary drew a sharp save out of Sekhoane Moerane with a shot from close range in the third minute before Kassim M'Dahoma and Ahmed Mogni failed to hit the target with their respective efforts from inside the box soon after.
The hosts had their first sniff at goal on 10 minutes when Motebang Sera latched onto a through-ball from Basia Makepe and fired straight at Yannick Pandor from inside the 18-yard area.
A lengthy lull to proceedings ensued, although the Coelacanths finished the half strongly as Bendjaloud Youssouf and Youssouf M'Changama both tested Moerane with long-range shots in the 39th and 44th minutes respectively.
News of Zambia's win over Ivory Coast must have filtered in at halftime because the Island nation lacked the same verve at the start of the second half, with the Crocodiles threatening on several occasions before the hour mark.
Sera forced Pandor into an early save from a tight angle on the left in the 51st minute before Jane Thabantso also tested the goalkeeper with a strike from range moments later, while Katleho Makateng was denied on 60 minutes after being released through on goal by Thabantso.
Basia Makepe, Thabo Mafatle and Tshwarelo Bereng were all guilty of failing to hit the target from distance before Moerane was called into action at the other end 11 minutes from time to keep out Soiyir Sanali's shot from inside the box on the left.
However, the Lesotho keeper was eventually beaten at the death when M'Changama got on the end of Ibroihim Djoudja's cross to score the winner from close range.
Lesotho 0
Comoros (0) 1 (M'Changama 90')
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Lesotho: S. Moerane, R. Senkoto, M. Makhetha, K. Tseka, R. Rasethuntsa, T. Mafatle (T. Toloane 82'), B. Makepe, T. Malane (N. Mokhachane 81'), J. Thabantso (T. Bereng 71'), K. Makatengo, K. Makateng (R. Mopeli 71'), M. Sera.
Comoros: Y. Pandor, M. Youssouf (A. Ali Mohamed 77'), Y. Zahary, K. M'Dahoma, S. Bakari (A. Abdallah 77'), Y. Bourhane (W. Vouama 58'), F. Bachirou, Y. M'Changama, B. Youssouf (I. Djoudja 66'), A. Mogni (S. Sanali 66'), F. Selemani.
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