Football: 2017 Afcon U-17 qualifiers |28 June 2016

Seychelles lose 0-3 to Tanzania in away leg match

The Seychelles Under-17 side will have a mountain to climb in the return leg of their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Tanzania after losing heavily in the away leg match on Sunday.

The team, coached by Gavin Jeanne and James Barra, went into the game against the Tanzanians needing to produce a good performance in order to give themselves a fighting chance of qualifying.

They were undone however, as the Tanzanians scored twice in the first half, before adding the killer blow in the second period to leave Seychelles at the end of a 0-3 loss and now needing at least four unanswered goals to get past their opponents in the return leg this weekend.

The hosts took 15 minutes to stamp the lead through Shaaban Zubeiry Ada whose 19-metre thunderbolt easily found the back of the yawning net. The scorer completed a move initiated by Nickson Clement Kibabage who played brilliantly.

After the goal, Seychelles decided to play a defensive game, but that didn't help much as in the 22nd minute, Ibrahim Abdallah Ali doubled the hosts' lead after Seychelles goalkeeper Juninho Mathiot fumbled a weak shot from overlapping defender Kibabage and the rebound met the scorer who coolly placed the ball into the gaping net.

It was Ally Hussein Msengi who made it 3-0 in the 62nd minute of the game through a spot-kick. The hosts' third goal came after the match referee Belay Tadesse Asserese from Ethiopia awarded Serengeti Boys a penalty after Seychelles defender, Stan Esther handed the ball inside the penalty box in efforts of clearing Asad Ali Juma's shot.

The 11th U-17 Afcon will take place from April 2-16, 2017 in Madagascar, where only eight teams will qualify for the finals.

Seychelles were eliminated by Uganda in the first round during their last attempt at qualifying in 2014 losing 1-5 (1-2 at home and 0-3 away) on aggregate score. Seychelles have never qualified for the tournament.

In 2011 Seychelles was the host nation, where we finished last in our group after losing all three games, against Mali, Cameroon and eventual finalists Burkina Faso. Nigeria were the winners on this occasion.

This time around, Seychelles will have to fight hard in order to make a second appearance at the tournament, while Tanzania will be looking to compete in their first Afcon Under-17 championships, although it will be tough as South Africa await the winners of this tie.

Meanwhile, neighbours Mauritius have already qualified for the first round of the qualifiers after preliminary round opponents Lesotho withdrew their involvement in the tournament. They will now meet Angola.

The players who are representing Seychelles in this tournament are: Gino Pleureuse, Kim Hoareau, Julius Rachel, Eronn Vidot, Juninho Mathiot, Stan Esther, Darren Dogley, Matthew Basset, Dean Mothe, Aeron Havelock, Ryan Henriette, Emmanuel Lesperance, Julius Joseph, Chris Uranie, Brandon Molle, Deema Dubel, Churchill Rose, Brandon Fanchette, Tyjoe Joubert and Ronny Confiance.

S. N.