Football - Disappointing Seychelles eliminated, relinquish gold medal |05 August 2015

Gold medallists for the first time in 2011, the Seychelles men’s football team have been eliminated from the ninth Indian Ocean Island Games.

It was surely a hard day for coach Ulric Mathiot who lost his father yesterday and the decisive group A match against Mayotte.

Seychelles had to win yesterday’s game at all cost to progress to the semifinals after a win by walkover against Madagascar last Friday and a 1-2 loss against the Maldives, and they just could not achieve the feat.

The 0-1 loss to Mayotte means Seychelles leave the competition and relinquish the gold medal.

With two wins against Maldives (3-1) and Seychelles (1-0) Mayotte move to the semifinals with six points – the same total as Madagascar who were late for the Games and played just two games in the group.

Elsewhere in women’s football, Natasha Bibi continued to light up the Games with another goal, although Seychelles lost 1-2 against Mayotte.

The Seychelles women’s team have qualified for the semifinals as they continue to surprise many and they will now face Madagascar for a spot in the final.