“The objective is to go to this 2026 World Cup” “

Foot Mercato: Last year Rodez played the leading roles in Ligue 2, the club was finished 4th. This season is more complicated, you are currently 12th. Do you have an explanation for this complicated season?

Akim Abdallah: Yeah, it's true that the season is complicated. We lost players who were holders. This year, we rebuilt a new team which, at the beginning, did not work well because the new ones had to understand the principles of the club. But it is true that over time, they quickly understood. And after, honestly, I think the classification does not reflect the team that we are today. There are a lot of matches where we left points. But hey, it's football.

FM: You stay on a good dynamic with 4 unbeaten games, including two victories at home. Do you think this dynamic can last until the end of the season?

AA: Yeah, it's true that we are on a good dynamic. Today, everything is going well, the group lives well. Despite, as I said, the classification that we do not deserve. But we are on a good dynamic and we intend to stay there.

“I arrive at a period when I am really at the top of myself”

FM: 1 goal, 5 assists. You are making your best statistical season of your career in the league. Do you think you are at your best level?

AA: My best level, no. But it's true that this season, I have many more stats than last season. And I arrive at a period when I am really at the top of myself. I even think that I can push further.

FM: In Grenoble, you played left lateral in a defense at 4, in Rodez for 2 seasons, you play left piston in a defense at 5. What role do you prefer?

AA: Actually, I don't necessarily have in preference. Because in Grenoble, we were in defense at 4. In Rodez, it is a defense at 3. It also allows me to take my corridor. So, automatically, there are more stats that are made. But afterwards, I don't necessarily have a preference. I can play 4, as I can also play 3 behind.

“The objective is to go to this 2026 World Cup” “

FM: Comoros have never participated in the World Cup in their history, but you are currently in the race to participate since you are second in your qualification group at the 2026 World Cup, the objective is to go to this World Cup?

AA: Of course today is one of our goals. It would really be something extraordinary for the country. We are not going to hide. I think we have nothing to envy to any country. We can qualify for the 2026 World Cup. We are fighting for our country. We really want to highlight it. We will give ourselves the means to access it.

FM: You qualified for the second time in your history at CAN, finishing first in your group in front of a great African nation Tunisia. What are the secrets of this magnificent qualification course?

AA: The secret, honestly, there is none. In selection, the atmosphere is different than in club. But we all get along well, it's going very well. We have a good team that plays in the ball. We are not afraid to play. I think we showed it during these qualifying phases. For us, it is really something concrete that we have accomplished. But we don't plan to stop there.

FM: Comoros will therefore participate in the second CAN of their history, what are your ambitions during this CAN?

AA: Going over the knockout stages, doing better than the previous CAN. We want to do better and after, the rest, we will see. Is just bonus.

“Play Morocco from entry? No, it doesn't scare it. “

FM: The opening match of the competition will be against Morocco. Is playing Morocco at home from the start is scary?

AA: No, that doesn't scare it. On the contrary, that is extremely happy. It's going to be a good match. And I think the pressure will be more on the side of Morocco than ours. Honestly, we are afraid of anyone. We do not take ourselves for a larger nation than another. We know that it is a big competition, we respect each team. But as I said, it's a football match. And in a football match, everything can be done, everything can be decided. So we are not at all stressed. We're going to play this football match like any other.

FM: Recently binationals like Zaydou Youssouf, Warren Omari, Myziane Maolida joined the selection. The arrival of these players allows the selection to spend a CAP?

AA: I don't know if it has allowed the selection to spend a course. But in any case, it is true that their arrival did us good. This is a certainty. It shows that the work we provided before paid. So much the better, if today they represent the country with us, it is a very good thing.

FM: What do you look at binational waves that choose an African selection to the detriment of a European selection?

AA: Honestly, what I could say is just that they saw their country evolve. I think that today it leads a lot of players to choose an African nation. Afterwards, everyone free to choose the nation they want. But in any case, honestly, it's nice. It shows that in African competitions, there is level.

FM: Can Comoros become an important nation in Africa in the coming years according to you?

AA: Yes, of course we can. Afterwards, there you go, you have to stay humble. You have to keep working, something you do. And then, of course, in the future, I can see the Comoros participating in each CAN and each World Cup.