Madagascar and Comoros are poised for a critical 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying clash at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi on Monday, with both sides seeking their first win in the campaign.
After a narrow 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in their opening qualifier, Madagascar will be eager to bounce back.
The Barea were on course for a vital point until Ferjani Sassi’s injury-time goal broke their resistance in the dying moments of the match.
That defeat left Madagascar at the bottom of their group, while Tunisia sits atop with three points.
Gambia and Comoros, meanwhile, are level with one point each, positioning themselves ahead of Madagascar after the first round.
Romuald Rakotondrabe’s side now faces an uphill task in Group J as they seek their first AFCON qualification win since 2021.
In their previous qualification campaign, Madagascar struggled, failing to register a single victory with three draws and three losses.
Their recent form, however, shows glimpses of promise.
Notably, in the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Madagascar achieved a significant 2-1 victory against Comoros in June.
This victory, along with another win in the campaign, has reignited hopes for Rakotondrabe’s men as they look to translate that momentum into AFCON qualifying success.
Madagascar’s home record against Comoros is also encouraging for the Barea.
In the two previous meetings held on Malagasy soil, Madagascar emerged victorious on both occasions.
A repeat performance would be a timely boost for the squad and their ambitions of making it to the continental showpiece in 2025.
On the other hand, Comoros will also be desperate for three points to kickstart their own qualification bid.
Despite a strong showing during their World Cup qualifying run, Stefano Cusin’s team was unable to progress to the 2023 AFCON, finishing third in their group.
They ended six points clear of Lesotho but trailed both Zambia and the eventual tournament winners, Ivory Coast.
Comoros have only qualified for one AFCON in their history, making their debut in Cameroon in 2021.
The island nation will be determined to secure their place at the 2025 edition, building on their encouraging World Cup qualifying campaign where they won one of their last two away games and collected nine points from four matches to lead their group.
As the teams prepare for this pivotal encounter, both Madagascar and Comoros are fully aware that victory could be a turning point in their quest for qualification.
Here is how the teams will line up for Monday’s match:
Madagascar Starting XI:
Laiton, Safidy, Fontaine, Demoleon, Rado, Ahmada, Raveloson, Johan N’zi, Lapoussin, Carolus, Arnaud
Comoros Starting XI:
Pandor, Mdahoma, Omari, A. Abdallah, Bakari, Bourhane, Lutin, Mchangama, Selemani, Saïd, Myziane
The battle between these two nations promises to be an intense affair as both sides look to claim a much-needed victory and improve their standing in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers.
