Veteran goalkeeper Kevin Jean-Louis has been included in Mauritius’ squad for the Cosafa Cup which will be staged in Durban from Saturday, May 25, to June 8 as they seek to end their long run of first-round exits in the competition.
The Islanders have not been past the first-stage in their last 10 attempts since they reached the quarterfinals in 2004.
As ever they go into the tournament with plenty of hope of changing that and coach Akbar Patel has named a strong 23-man squad to achieve that aim.
Besides Jean-Louis, they have included experienced forward Giano Fabrice Li Tien Kee, with the youngest member being 20-year-old midfielder Adrien Francois.
Mauritius will open their Group A campaign against fellow Islanders Comoros in what is also the first game of the tournament at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday.
Mauritius caused arguably the biggest upset in Cosafa Cup history in 2004 when they beat South Africa, who had a full-strength team headed to the African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia, in the first round in Curepipe.
But Club M is still seeking to get past the quarterfinal stage of the southern African championship.
In 2001, Mauritius did make that stage after beating Namibia and but then lost 1-0 to Angola in Luanda.
In 2004 their hopes were dashed in the last eight when they went down 3-1 to Zambia. Four years later they suffered the indignity of a 7-0 thrashing at the hands of fellow Islanders, Seychelles, the biggest defeat in the history of the competition.
Last year they did fare so well, despite winning their opener 1-0 against Malawi. That was followed by a defeat by the same scoreline to Angola and a 6-0 loss to Botswana.
Mauritius squad:
Goalkeepers: Christopher Caserne, Kevin Jean-Louis
Defenders: Kerlson Agathe, Jean Fabrice Augustin, Clarel Mathieu Jackson, Mamainiana Francis Rasolofonirina, Emmanuel Jason Selmour Jean, Emmanuel Rudy Vincent Jean, Marco Dorza Louis, Didier L’enfle Jean
Midfielders: Mervyn Jocelyn Jean, Bernard Jubeau Jean, Joseph Stephan Kevin Perticots, Luther Murphy Rose, Jonathan Speville, Walter Duprey St Martin, Fabrice Brasse, Adrien Francois
Forwards: Adrien Botlar, Stephan Nabab Jean, Ashley Nazira Steven, Jacques Desire Patate Jean, Giano Fabrice Li Tien Kee.
In partnership with ANA and Mediapix
