Football: 2017 Afcon qualifiers |04 June 2016

Manou, Hopprich shine for Seychelles against Algeria

Last Thursday’s African Cup of Nations Cup qualifier between Seychelles and Algeria at Stad Linite was one which ultimately ended in a result that most had predicted, although spectators present at the game were left quite surprised and satisfied with the performance of coach Ralph Jean-Louis’ boys.

Coach Jean-Louis fielded a young side and they managed to hold their own for over 40 minutes against a side who possess players who have UEFA Champions League and World Cup experience, such as Napoli’s Faouzi Ghoulam, Lyon’s Rachid Ghezzal, Dinamo Zagreb’s Hilal El Soudani, Valencia’s Sofiane Feghouli and Stade de Reim’s Aïssa Mandi who could soon be playing in the Premier League with Middlesbrough next season.

While the Algerians gave Seychelles’ fans a good treat with the fast-paced football, some of our own players managed to leave a very good impression on those present.

Defender Yannick Manou was a standout performer at the heart of the Seychelles defence. The St Michel centre-back made a number of key interventions to deny the Algerians throughout the match.

“For me the match was very good as I managed to test myself against professional players and I actually handled them quite well and I think in the future if Seychelles can have more professional players, we will be able to win games like this,” said 24-year-old Manou.

Manou, who also played in the away match which Seychelles lost 4-0, said in all the team’s performance was very good and there has been a lot of improvement in their style of play.

We asked him about the goals conceded and he answered: “The first goal was our own mistake as we were all relying on the other to clear the ball and in the end there was some confusion which led to the goal. As for the second goal, there was really nothing we could do about it.”

Another player who stood out in the match is Germany-based Carl Hopprich who put in a battling midfield display for 90 minutes alongside Archille Henriette who played in an unfamiliar deep midfield role.

Hopprich though making his first appearance for Seychelles, looked good when he had the ball and managed some good interceptions to protect his back-four.

“I think I did quite well and I am happy with that,” said the Hertha Zehlendorf player. Zehlendorf are actually one of the largest football clubs in Germany and have a strong youth department which has developed a number of German international players and have won two national youth championships.

Players such as Pierre Littbarski, Christian Ziege, Robert Kovač and Carsten Ramelow all came through the Zehlendorf youth system which gives high hopes for Hopprich.

The 20-year-old added that Seychelles performed very well against a top team and it was very encouraging.

Hopprinch was born in Berlin, Germany. His father is German and mother Seychelles and goes by the name Claunada Estico.

Other players who performed well in Thursday’s encounter were skipper and goalkeeper Vincent Euphrasie, Karl Hall and Colin Bibi.

This performance gives local football fans hope that the team can produce some good performances at the Cosafa (Council of Southern Africa Football Association) Cup in Namibia.

S. N.