Comoros’ national football team, nicknamed ‘Les Cœlacanthes,’ is currently competing in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The team’s nickname is derived from the coelacanth, a 410-million-year-old fish species that has become a symbol of biodiversity, national pride, and identity in Comoros. The coelacanth was considered extinct until its rediscovery off South Africa in 1938 and later in Comoros in 1952, rewriting biology textbooks and placing the small island nation at the center of a significant scientific discovery.
Today, Comoros is one of the few known habitats for the coelacanth. The species is deeply ingrained in the country’s culture, with the national football team, basketball team, and individual athletes all being referred to as the coelacanths. According to Comoros Minister of Environment Abubakar Ben Mahmoud, the coelacanth is an integral part of the country’s history and heritage, and efforts are being made to preserve it, along with the ocean.
The Comoros government, in collaboration with Nekton and WILDTRUST, recently completed the nation’s first systematic exploration of its ocean, documenting previously unexplored marine habitats and establishing a research program dedicated to the coelacanth. The mission, co-led by Dr. Nadjim Ahmed Mohamed of the University of the Comoros, aims to study and protect the species, which is featured on the national football team’s jersey.
The resilience of the coelacanth is seen as a reflection of Comoros’ own trajectory, with the small nation seeking to make a significant impact in science and sports despite its limited population. The national football team’s manager, Hamada Jambay, draws parallels between the coelacanth’s survival and the team’s determination to succeed in the AFCON tournament. After a difficult start against Morocco, Les Cœlacanthes is looking to draw inspiration from the coelacanth’s history of survival as they face upcoming challenges in the tournament.
The conservation of the coelacanth and the exploration of Comoros’ ocean are significant steps towards protecting the country’s rich marine biodiversity. As the national football team continues to compete in the AFCON, the government and research institutions are working to ensure the long-term preservation of the coelacanth and its habitat, recognizing the importance of this unique species to the country’s heritage and identity.