The Club M has certainly shown a different face during the second leg played at the Côte d’Or National Sports Complex but the inability to manage its advantage in the score has cost him the qualification for the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2023.
After its defeat (0-1) in Cote d’Or last Thursday, March 24, and the rejection by CAF of the protest lodged by Club M against a player of Sao Tome and Principe for a story of invalid PCR test, Mauritius was in the obligation to win this match.
Tony Francois’ men asphyxiated their opponent from the beginning of the game and had multiple opportunities but could not finish them in goal.
Maurice opened the score with a penalty converted by Kevin Bru (26th) but the saotomians equalized one minute later on a lack of concentration of the local defense. Then, in the 34th minute, after Club M lost the ball in the center circle, Sao Tome and Principe launched a lightning counter-attack to put Luis Dos Angos on the spot and lead 1-2.
In the second half, Mauritius was able to regain the lead in the 57th minute of play thanks to a goal Dylan Collard on an excellent cross from Marco Dorza. But as in the first half, the visitors came back to score a minute later and this on a shot from 20 meters of Ricardo Cardoso that left the Mauritian keeper, Kevin Jean Louis, without reaction.
At the end of the match Ashley Nazira (86th) equalized with a header. Club M tried everything to score a fourth. However, the saotomies had already locked down the defense to push Mauritius out of the 2023 CAN competition.
