CAN 2021: Ben El Fardou, the Red Star of the Comoros

Ben El Fardou, the Comorian striker, under the colors of the Red Star of Belgrade in the Europa League in October 2020 © ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP

Text by: Martin Guez

4 min

Again author of a double in friendly against Sierra Leone (2-0), last November 13, Ben El Fardou is the only star of the Comoros qualified for his first CAN.

The 32-year-old center-forward is the team's top scorer, but also the top foreign scorer in the history of the Serbian league.

He who has been playing for 3 years at the Red Star in Belgrade.

Portrait of a discreet man, who has a sense of family.

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“ 

Ben, the big Ben!

"," El Fardou is my darling ", Ben is a big brother

 ".

Favorite for some, big brother for others: Ben El Fardou became the hero of a people, one evening in November 2020, by scoring against Kenya a decisive goal for qualification for the CAN.

“ 

At that moment I felt pride!” He concedes in a shy voice.

I was happy to have come this far and to have chosen the selection

.

"

Ben El Fardou to the public


😍😍😍🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 🇰🇲🇰🇲🇰🇲🇰🇲 pic.twitter.com/8a1vLnkTVR

- FFC 🇰🇲 (@fedcomfootball) November 17, 2018

Because the one that the whole archipelago applauds was born in France, in Mayotte, the 4th historic island of the Comoros, but a French department.

The striker is then trained in Le Havre and dreams of the France team.

Yet in 2014, he joined Amir Abdou and his gang for the start of the adventure: “ 

I would never have thought of playing in a CAN with the Comoros, it's fantastic what's happening.

I have found brothers, I do not regret my choice.

 "

A choice that inevitably delighted Youssouf M'Changama, one of his little brothers on the attack front: "

He's our top scorer, our top-level player, Champions League level!"

A poison for the defenses which frees up space for its partners.

Finally for his brothers, it is a team of brothers! 

"

A family affair, which is even shared with

Kassim Oumouri

, the commentator of the Comorian national television, who has become the team's mascot: “

When Ben has the ball in the area, I start to think: what am I? will say if he scores? And there I find the magic word. Ben is my Messi, my Ronaldo. I love him too much! 

"

Not really an El Fardou superstar, but a confirmed international scorer: 71 goals in 151 games with the Red Star. He is also the top scorer of the selection. What to show off, but he prefers to play as a team. “ 

The most important thing is to have a homogeneous group. I am an executive, I play in a club that is a little more upscale. Young people come to see me. It's a role that I take to heart, because when I arrived in 2014, we were very small! There were no executives. Today young people are better supervised. 

"

An accompanist, who has fulfilled his role perfectly.

All in complete discretion, detailed Youssouf M'Changama: “

He is a very calm person, very calm.

His influence is not through words.

He is discreet, calm, sure of himself and brings us his serenity.

It's good for the whole team.

 "

He is not, however, the only darling of the Comorian class.

But even Fouad Bachirou, the midfielder of the national team, inclines: “He's one of the bosses!

A great professional, very calm, who sets an example in the locker room.

It shows in his warm-ups, in the way he takes care of his body.

He speaks only when necessary.

He's a great guy, a brother.

He is in great shape, and we hope that he will also be for our 1st CAN.

"

He is not, however, the only darling of the Comorian class.

But even Fouad Bachirou, the midfielder of the national team, inclines: “

He's one of the bosses!

A great professional, very calm, who sets an example in the locker room.

It shows in his warm-ups, in the way he takes care of his body.

He speaks only when necessary.

He's a great guy, a brother.

He is in great shape, and we hope that he will also be for our 1st CAN

.

"

A big brother who will have to show the way to the little ones, against Morocco, Ghana and Gabon, for the 1st of the Coelacanths in the deep end at the CAN in January.

"My baby, my darling"



Comorian commentators 😭 pic.twitter.com/0RpW8GB9zs

- Vines Foot (@VinesFoot) September 8, 2021

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