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Seychelles national football team

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This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Seychelles women's national football team.

Seychelles
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)The Pirates
AssociationSeychelles Football Federation
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCOSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coachRalph Jean-Louis (caretaker)
CaptainBenoit Marie
Most capsBenoit Marie (64)
Top scorerPhilip Zialor (14)
Home stadiumStade Linité
FIFA codeSEY
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 201 Steady (24 October 2024)[1]
Highest129 (October 2006)
Lowest202 (February 2020)
First international
Réunion Réunion 2–0 Seychelles 
(Saint-Denis, Réunion; 13 February 1974)
Biggest win
 Seychelles 9–0 Maldives 
(Saint-Pierre, Réunion; 27 August 1979)
Biggest defeat
 Ivory Coast 9–0 Seychelles 
(Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire; 17 November 2023)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances14 (first in 2005)
Best resultGroup stage (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024)

The Seychelles national football team, nicknamed the Pirates, represents Seychelles in international football and is controlled by the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF). SFF has been a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA since 1986.[3] The team's home stadium is the 10,000-capacity Stade Linité located in Roche Caiman in the outskirts of Victoria, the capital of Seychelles.[3]

History

[edit]

Football was introduced to Seychelles in the 1930s. Its first official competition, the Challenge Cup, was organized in 1936. Then in 1941, a championship between five teams was set up with matches of 60 minutes, played barefoot.[4]

In 1969, the president of the Seychelles Football Federation wanted to set up a national team. Engaged on a voluntary basis, Adrian Fisher arrived on the island in September to reorganize Seychelles football. He equipped all the players with shoes, introduced contemporary training techniques and extended the match time to 90 minutes. The newly-formed national team played their first matches at a friendly tournament in Kenya in April 1970. In Seychelles' first matches played on a real football pitch, they drew 2–2 against Feisal F.C. then lost 1–2 to Mwengi at Mombasa Municipal Stadium. When Fisher left Seychelles in 1973, the team had played six games against four clubs.

Seychelles played their first match against another national team on March 13, 1974, against Réunion. In this friendly match, the Pirates lost 0–2. Two years later, this time as an independent nation, the Seychelles faced Réunion again, losing 1–4. In September 1977, they played their first match against a FIFA-affiliated team, Mauritius, during a tournament played in Réunion, and lost 1–2. The team enjoyed its first victory the following year by beating Réunion 1–0 at home.

Seychelles v Ethiopia at Stade Linité, 5 September 2015

In 1979, Seychelles played their first tournament, the 1979 Indian Ocean Games. They lost their first game 3–0 to Réunion, and beat Maldives 9–0 in their second. In the semi-final, they knocked out Mauritius 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw, but in the final they lost 2–1 to Réunion.

Seychelles were eliminated from the group stage at the 1985 Indian Ocean Games but, on August 31, 1986, they played their first competitive match recognised by FIFA and CAF, following their affiliation with both organisations, a qualification match against Mauritius for the 1987 All-Africa Games, which they lost 1–2. They participated, for the first time, in the 1988 African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Mauritius but lost 1–3 over the two legs.

At the 1990 Indian Ocean Games, the team suffered the heaviest defeat in its history against Madagascar in the semi-final, losing 0–6. In the bronze medal match, they won against Comoros 3–1. Despite hosting the following games, the team failed to repeat this performance, losing all four games and finishing last in the competition.

After the elimination from the preliminary phase of the 1996 African Cup of Nations by Mauritius 2–1 over the two legs, Vojo Gardašević was hired to lead the team. Following that, the Pirates again finished third in the 1998 Indian Ocean Games and, two years later, competed in the World Cup qualifiers for the first time. Playing against Namibia they drew 1–1 in Stade Linité, thanks to a goal by Philip Zialor but lost the second leg 0–3. Seychelles were also eliminated in the preliminary round of the 2000 African Cup of Nations by Zimbabwe 0–6 over the two matches. Seychelles fared better in the qualification for the 2004 African Cup of Nations as the team, led by Dominique Bathenay then Michael Nees, finished third and recorded two prestigious home wins: beating Eritrea 1–0 with a goal by veteran Roddy Victor, and beating a Peter Ndlovu-led Zimbabwe team 2–1 with goals by strikers Alpha Baldé and Philip Zialor. Following that they achieved a bronze medal at the 2003 Indian Ocean Games, then were eliminated in the preliminary round of the 2006 World Cup by Zambia, 1–5 in the two games.

In 2011, Seychelles hosted the 2011 Indian Ocean Island Games and won the tournament for the first time, beating Mauritius in the final on penalties.[5][6]

The rest of the 2010s saw little success for The Pirates with the high point achieved during 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification where they managed a 2–0 win over Lesotho and a 1–1 draw with Ethiopia to finish third in their four-team group.[citation needed]

FIFA Goal programme

[edit]

In 2006, a new technical centre in Mahé was opened, with help from the FIFA Goal programme.[7] The project had a total cost of approximately 750,000 USD. James Michel, president of the Seychelles, was present at the inauguration. The technical centre houses the SFF headquarters, an auditorium, 20 bedrooms, two massage rooms, changing rooms and a restaurant. The centre is located next to the turf pitches that were also installed by the Goal programme in 2003.[8][9]

Results and fixtures

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Main article: Seychelles national football team results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

[edit]
17 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Ivory Coast  9–0  Seychelles Abidjan, Ivory Coast
19:00 UTC±0
Report Stadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium
Referee: Adalbert Diouf (Senegal)
20 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Seychelles  0–5  Kenya Abidjan, Ivory Coast
19:00 UTC±0 Report
Stadium: Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny
Referee: Younoussa Camara (Guinea)

2024

[edit]
8 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Gambia  5–1  Seychelles Berkane, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1
Report
Stadium: Berkane Municipal Stadium
Attendance: 700
Referee: Joseph Odey Ogabor (Nigeria)
11 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Seychelles  1–3  Burundi Berkane, Morocco
20:00 UTC+1
Report
Stadium: Berkane Municipal Stadium
Referee: Mohamed Ali Moussa (Niger)
28 June 2024 COSAFA Cup Lesotho  1–1  Seychelles Gqeberha, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
1 July 2024 COSAFA Cup Angola  3–2  Seychelles Gqeberha, South Africa
12:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium
3 July 2024 COSAFA Cup Namibia  3–1  Seychelles Gqeberha, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium

Coaches

[edit]
Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

Players

[edit]

Squad

[edit]

The following players were selected for the 2024 COSAFA Cup.[10]

Caps and goals correct as of 28 June 2024, after the match against Lesotho.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Ian Ah-Kong (1995-11-02) 2 November 1995 (age 28) 16 0 Seychelles La Passe
1GK Romeo Padayachy (1993-02-18) 18 February 1993 (age 31) 3 0 Seychelles Light Stars
1GK Liam Esther 0 0 Seychelles Northern Dynamo
2DF Warren Mellie (1994-10-01) 1 October 1994 (age 30) 38 3 Seychelles Foresters Mont Fleuri
2DF Don Fanchette (1997-12-03) 3 December 1997 (age 26) 29 0 Seychelles La Passe
2DF Makhan Bristol-Cissoko (2006-06-26) 26 June 2006 (age 18) 5 0 Seychelles Foresters Mont Fleuri
2DF Markus Payet (2005-06-13) 13 June 2005 (age 19) 5 0 Seychelles La Passe
2DF Anil Dijoux (2006-07-20) 20 July 2006 (age 18) 1 0 Seychelles Northern Dynamo
3MF Gervais Waye-Hive (1988-06-11) 11 June 1988 (age 36) 50 6 Seychelles Saint Louis Suns United
3MF Dean Mothé (2000-08-01) 1 August 2000 (age 24) 21 0 Seychelles Saint Louis Suns United
3MF Elie Sopha (2004-11-03) 3 November 2004 (age 19) 8 0 Seychelles St Michel United
3MF Imra Raheriniaina (2004-11-19) 19 November 2004 (age 19) 7 0 Seychelles St Michel United
3MF Lorenzo Hoareau (2007-06-01) 1 June 2007 (age 17) 5 3 Seychelles Foresters Mont Fleuri
3MF Lucas Panayi (1997-03-06) 6 March 1997 (age 27) 4 0 Seychelles Northern Dynamo
3MF Tyrone Cadeau (2004-06-14) 14 June 2004 (age 20) 3 0 England Stafford Rangers
3MF Johan Gamatice (1998-09-07) 7 September 1998 (age 26) 3 0 Seychelles Saint Louis Suns United
3MF Vince Fred (2005-10-16) 16 October 2005 (age 19) 2 0 Seychelles Light Stars
3MF Nick Labiche (1999-07-08) 8 July 1999 (age 25) 2 0 Seychelles Rovers
3MF Stephan Ladouce (2005-06-14) 14 June 2005 (age 19) 0 0 Seychelles Saint Louis Suns United
3MF Laurence Leon (1996-03-11) 11 March 1996 (age 28) 0 0
3MF Saverio Tsiahoua (2004-06-16) 16 June 2004 (age 20) 0 0 Seychelles Anse Réunion
4FW Brandon Labrosse (1999-03-11) 11 March 1999 (age 25) 28 2 Seychelles Foresters Mont Fleuri
4FW Justin Riaz 0 0

Recent call-ups

[edit]

The following players have also been called up to the Seychelles squad within the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Alvin Michel (1990-01-05) 5 January 1990 (age 34) 24 0 Seychelles St Michel United 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
GK Jean-Paul Lesperance (1990-06-29) 29 June 1990 (age 34) 1 0 Seychelles Côte d'Or 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
DF Benoit Marie (1992-12-28) 28 December 1992 (age 31) 64 0 Seychelles Côte d'Or v.  Burundi; 11 June 2024
DF Julio Brown (1996-08-30) 30 August 1996 (age 28) 8 0 Seychelles St Michel United 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
DF Daryl Louise (1998-08-12) 12 August 1998 (age 26) 4 0 England Abingdon United 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
DF Juninho Mathiot (2000-02-09) 9 February 2000 (age 24) 23 0 Seychelles Saint Louis Suns United 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
DF Dean Ballette (1995-06-09) 9 June 1995 (age 29) 11 0 Seychelles St John Bosco 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
DF Brandon Molle (2000-04-17) 17 April 2000 (age 24) 4 0 Seychelles Foresters Mont Fleuri 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
DF Ramlee Pascal (1991-09-19) 19 September 1991 (age 33) 5 0 Seychelles St Michel United 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
DF Michael Mancienne (1988-01-08) 8 January 1988 (age 36) 5 1 Retired 2023 Indian Ocean Island GamesRET
MF Ryan Henriette (2001-01-23) 23 January 2001 (age 23) 20 2 Seychelles Foresters Mont Fleuri v.  Burundi; 11 June 2024
MF Kenner Nourrice (1995-06-10) 10 June 1995 (age 29) 17 0 Seychelles St Michel United v.  Kenya; 20 November 2023
MF Colin Bibi (1995-06-05) 5 June 1995 (age 29) 23 1 Seychelles Saint Louis Suns United 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
MF Neil Confiance (1997-08-12) 12 August 1997 (age 27) 4 0 Seychelles St Michel United 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
MF Thierry Camille (2001-12-11) 11 December 2001 (age 22) 4 0 Seychelles Saint John Bosco 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
MF Gerrick Vidot (1994-06-30) 30 June 1994 (age 30) 8 0 Seychelles St John Bosco 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
FW Josip Ravignia (2001-01-19) 19 January 2001 (age 23) 18 0 Seychelles St Michel United 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games
FW Hubert Jean (1996-07-26) 26 July 1996 (age 28) 13 1 Seychelles Saint Louis Suns United 2023 Indian Ocean Island Games

INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Preliminary/Standby squad
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Serving suspension
WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue
COV Tested positive for COVID-19

Player records

[edit]
As of 3 July 2024[11]
Players in bold are still active with Seychelles.

Most appearances

[edit]
Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Benoit Marie 64 0 2013–present
2 Gervais Waye-Hive 51 6 2012–present
3 Colin Esther 45 2 2008–2022
4 Eric Nelson Sopha 44 0 1996–2012
5 Jones Joubert 43 0 2006–2019
6 Warren Mellie 40 3 2017–present
7 Achille Henriette 39 6 2006–2016
8 Henny Dufresne [it] 33 1 2002–2014
Philip Zialor 33 14 1998–2009
10 Yannick Manoo [it] 32 1 2013–2022

Top goalscorers

[edit]
Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Philip Zialor 14 33 0.42 1998–2009
2 Alpha Baldé [it] 6 20 0.3 1996–2011
Achille Henriette 6 39 0.15 2006–2016
Gervais Waye-Hive 6 51 0.12 2012–present
5 Perry Monnaie 4 17 0.24 2018–2020
Don Annacoura [it] 4 27 0.15 2000–2011
Brandon Labrosse 4 30 0.13 2019–present
8 Lorenzo Hoareau 3 7 0.43 2021–present
Ralph Jean-Louis 3 10 0.3 1993–2000
Wilnes Brutus [it] 3 12 0.25 2002–2011
Leroy Coralie [es] 3 17 0.18 2016–2022
Yelvanny Rose 3 18 0.17 2002–2007
Nelson Laurence 3 25 0.12 2008–2018
Godfrey Denis Armel 3 29 0.1 1998–2008
Warren Mellie 3 40 0.08 2017–present

Competition records

[edit]

FIFA World Cup

[edit]
FIFA World Cup Qualification
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1974 Part of  United Kingdom Part of  United Kingdom
1978 to 1986 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
1990 to 1998 Did not enter Did not enter
South Korea Japan 2002 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 1 4
Germany 2006 2 0 1 1 1 5
South Africa 2010 6 0 0 6 4 17
Brazil 2014 2 0 0 2 0 7
Russia 2018 2 0 0 2 0 3
Qatar 2022 2 0 0 2 0 10
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined 4 0 0 4 2 22
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total – 0/9 – – – – – – 20 0 2 18 8 68

Africa Cup of Nations

[edit]
Africa Cup of Nations record Africa Cup of Nations Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Sudan 1957 to Ethiopia 1976 Part of  United Kingdom Part of  United Kingdom
Ghana 1978 to Egypt 1986 Not affiliated to CAF Not affiliated to CAF
Morocco 1988 Did not enter Did not enter
Algeria 1990 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 1 3
Senegal 1992 Withdrew Withdrew
Tunisia 1994 Did not enter Did not enter
South Africa 1996 Withdrew Withdrew
Burkina Faso 1998 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 1 2
Ghana Nigeria 2000 Did not enter Did not enter
Mali 2002
Tunisia 2004 Did not qualify 6 2 0 4 4 10
Egypt 2006 2 0 1 1 1 5
Ghana 2008 6 1 1 4 3 14
Angola 2010 6 0 0 6 4 17
Equatorial Guinea Gabon 2012 Did not enter Did not enter
South Africa 2013 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 0 7
Equatorial Guinea 2015 Withdrew Withdrew
Gabon 2017 Did not qualify 6 1 1 4 5 11
Egypt 2019 6 0 1 5 3 25
Cameroon 2021 2 0 0 2 1 3
Ivory Coast 2023 2 0 1 1 1 3
Morocco 2025 Excluded Excluded
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2027 To be determined To be determined
2029
Total – 0/35 – – – – – – 42 5 6 31 24 100

Indian Ocean Island Games

[edit]
Indian Ocean Island Games record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Réunion 1979 Runners-up 2nd 4 1 1 2 11 6
Mauritius 1985 Group stage 6th 2 0 0 2 1 4
Madagascar 1990 Third place 3rd 3 1 0 2 3 9
Seychelles 1993 Fourth place 4th 4 0 0 4 3 12
Réunion 1998 Third place 3rd 4 2 0 2 9 10
Mauritius 2003 Third place 3rd 4 1 2 1 3 6
Madagascar 2007 Group stage 5th 2 1 0 1 2 4
Seychelles 2011 Champions 1st 5 3 2 0 10 4
Réunion 2015 Group stage 5th 3 1 0 2 4 3
Mauritius 2019 Fourth place 4th 4 0 2 2 2 8
Madagascar 2023 Group Stage 6th 2 0 0 2 0 2
Total 1 Title 11/11 36 10 7 20 48 68

CECAFA Cup

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Main article: CECAFA Cup

COSAFA Cup

[edit]
Main article: COSAFA Cup
Year COSAFA Cup
Round Result M W D L GF GA
2000 Excluded
2001
2002 Did not enter
2003
2004
2005 Round 1 11th 1 0 0 1 0 3
2006 Round 1 7th 2 0 1 1 1 3
2007 Round 1 13th 2 0 0 2 0 7
South Africa 2008 Group stage 11th 3 1 1 1 8 2
Zimbabwe 2009 Group stage 13th 3 0 0 3 2 6
Zambia 2013 Group stage 13th 2 0 0 2 2 8
South Africa 2015 Group stage 13th 3 0 1 2 0 2
Namibia 2016 Group stage 14th 3 0 0 3 0 10
South Africa 2017 Group stage 14th 3 0 0 3 1 10
South Africa 2018 Group stage 12th 3 0 2 1 2 3
South Africa 2019 Group stage 13th 3 0 1 2 0 6
South Africa 2021 Did not enter
South Africa 2022 Group Stage 13th 3 0 0 3 1 6
South Africa 2023 Group Stage 12th 3 0 0 3 2 9
Total Group stage 11/19 34 1 6 27 19 75

Head-to-head record

[edit]
As of 3 July 2024[12]

FIFA members

[edit]
Opponent
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Algeria 2 0 0 2 0 6 –6
 Angola 2 0 0 2 2 6 –4
 Bangladesh 3 1 1 1 2 2 0
 Botswana 2 0 0 2 0 3 –3
 Burkina Faso 2 0 0 2 3 7 –4
 Burundi 6 0 0 6 3 17 –14
 Comoros 9 3 2 4 12 16 –4
 Congo 1 0 1 0 1 1 0
 DR Congo 2 0 0 2 0 7 –7
 Eritrea 3 1 0 2 1 2 –1
 Eswatini 4 0 1 3 1 7 –6
 Ethiopia 2 0 1 1 2 3 –1
 Gambia 1 0 0 1 1 5 –4
 Ivory Coast 1 0 0 1 0 9 –9
 Kenya 6 0 1 5 2 21 –19
 Lesotho 5 1 2 2 5 6 –1
 Libya 2 0 0 2 2 13 –11
 Madagascar 13 0 4 9 6 28 –22
 Malawi 2 0 0 2 0 5 –5
 Maldives 8 4 1 3 21 10 +11
 Mali 2 0 0 2 0 5 –5
 Mauritius 31 6 8 17 32 51 –19
 Mozambique 4 0 1 3 2 6 –4
 Namibia 7 0 3 4 5 15 –10
 Nigeria 2 0 0 2 1 6 –5
 Palestine 1 0 0 1 0 1 –1
 Rwanda 2 0 0 2 0 10 –10
 San Marino 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
 Sierra Leone 1 0 0 1 0 2 –2
 South Africa 3 0 1 2 0 9 –9
 South Sudan 2 0 0 2 1 3 –2
 Sri Lanka 4 2 1 1 8 5 +3
 Sudan 2 0 0 2 0 5 –5
 Tanzania 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1
 Tunisia 4 0 0 4 0 14 –14
 Uganda 3 0 0 3 2 8 –6
 Zambia 4 0 1 3 3 11 –8
 Zimbabwe 7 1 0 6 3 22 –19
Total 159 20 31 107 124 349 –225

Non FIFA members

[edit]
Opponent
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Mayotte 3 1 0 2 3 5 –2
 Réunion 16 2 1 13 9 33 –24
Total 19 3 1 15 12 38 –26

Honours

[edit]

Regional

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Sport in The Seychelles". topendsports.com. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  4. ^ "History Of Seychelles Football & Federation". Cerf Resort. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  5. ^ FIFA.com (27 August 2020). "Spectacular Seychelles' footballing passion". Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  6. ^ FIFA.com (1 September 2011). "Seychelles making historic waves". Retrieved 25 September 2020.[dead link]
  7. ^ "Seychelles FIFA Goal Project" (PDF). FIFA.com. 21 April 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Seychelles Football Federation & history". www.cerf-resort.com. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Goal Project 2-Seychelles' football house inaugurated". Seychelles Nation. 16 February 2006. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Final Squad". Facebook. Seychelles Football Federation.
  11. ^ "Seychelles". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  12. ^ "World Football Elo Ratings: Seychelles". Eloratings.net. 4 May 2023. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
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