Football: Airtel Cup final preview-Côte d’Or plan to steal the show as St Michel go for record sixth title |25 August 2012

St Michel had first won the cup in 2004, before claiming it for four successive years in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

As for Côte d’Or who are in their second season in the top flight after being promoted last year, they will be going for their first title.

Malagasy coach Ahmed’s team finished the group stage unbeaten. Drawn in pool B alongside Northern Dynamo, St Louis Suns, St Roch and Anse Reunion, Côte d’Or registered seven wins and a draw in eight matches to top the group with 22 points. They scored 15 goals and conceded five. In their semifinal match last weekend, they eliminated La Passe 2-1 to book a place in their first ever major final.

As for St Michel, they played in pool A alongside St Francis, La Passe, LightStars and Quincy. They finished first on 21 points from seven wins and a loss out of eight matches. They scored 26 goals and conceded seven.
In last year’s final, St Michel defeated La Digue-based La Passe 4-2.
Today’s final will start at 5pm and tickets cost R35 and R25.

R. D.