Interview – Stefano Cusin: “An extraordinary record” with Comoros

Africa 11 April 2026 at 06:26

Aliou Toundé

News Editor

After two remarkable years at the helm of the Comoros national team, Stefano Cusin turned the page on March 1, 2026. In an exclusive interview with Foot-Africa, the Italian coach takes a very positive look back at his tenure and reflects on the highlights of a truly “historic” adventure.

How do you view your record today?

Stefano Cusin: Honestly, it’s an extremely positive record, even a historic one. In two years, we climbed 30 places in the FIFA rankings. That’s huge, especially for a nation like Comoros. It’s the biggest leap in Africa during this period.

Beyond the results, what makes you most proud?

The overall work. When I arrived, the team’s market value on Transfermarkt was around 3 million euros. Today, it’s at 21 million. That means we’ve helped the players develop. We brought in dual nationals, but also launched many young talents who grew and joined more competitive leagues.

Your team made a big impression during the AFCON 2025 qualifiers…

Yes, that was a major moment. We were in a very tough group with Tunisia, Gambia, and Madagascar. We finished first, unbeaten, with the best attack and the best defense. And above all, that victory in Tunisia… a team that hadn’t lost at home in 14 years.

You also recorded some other great victories…

Exactly. We beat Ghana and Cape Verde, who have both qualified for the 2026 World Cup. We defeated Gambia and also picked up our first win against Madagascar… These are results that matter. It shows that Comoros can compete with top-level teams.

What was the secret to this success?

Synergy. Between the staff, the players, the federation, and even the government. Everyone was pulling in the same direction. It created a healthy environment where the players could fully express themselves. These are extraordinary guys. We experienced something very powerful on a human level. Also, the head of state was involved, he called me regularly. That shows that football is taken seriously. It’s a good sign for the future.

Were there any obstacles during your tenure?

The main one was not playing at home for two years. That penalized us, especially for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. If we had that advantage, I think the story could have been different. Despite that, we led our group for a long time. That alone is a source of great pride. We showed that this team can dream big.

With a record of 12 wins, 6 draws, and 6 losses in 24 matches, Stefano Cusin leaves behind a transformed and ambitious Comoros side. “We made a team progress, but also gave pride to an entire people. And that will remain,” he reflects.

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Comoros