Football: Bangabandhu Gold Cup 2020 |22 January 2020

Seychelles to face reigning champions Palestine in today’s semifinal

The Seychelles national selection will be action today when they face defending champions Palestine in the first semifinal at the ongoing Bangabandhu Gold Cup which is taking place in Bangladesh.

Seychelles qualified for a spot in the last four after edging out neighbours Mauritius on goal difference in the group stage.

Both Seychelles and Mauritius collected a single point following a defeat and a draw apiece, but the boys of coach Ralph Jean-Louis sneaked past the Dallons to reach the semis on goal difference.

Both lost to Burundi, but Mauritius’ defeat margin – 1-4 – compared to 1-3 for Seychelles put our national selection in a better position.

In their last group match on Monday, Seychelles took control of the Indian Ocean derby with first-half goals from Gervais Waye-Hive and Perry Monnaie, before allowing Mauritius to equalise through Jason Ferre and Adrien Francois to end the match on a 2-2 draw.

Group leaders Burundi will play hosts Bangladesh who finished as the other group’s runners up in the second semifinal tomorrow.

Roland Duval