The Comoros national football team will face Madagascar in a pivotal AFCON 2025 qualifier in November, though once again, they will be unable to host the match on home soil. This fixture, marking the sixth day of the qualifiers for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), was initially slated to be held in the Comoros but must now be played at a neutral venue due to the country’s lack of a CAF-approved stadium.
As a result, Comoros will be deprived of playing before their home supporters. Their upcoming international break includes matches against Gambia and Madagascar—both of which will now take place away from home.
The continued inability to host matches domestically underscores ongoing issues with the Maluzini Stadium, the primary venue on the islands, which is yet to meet the standards set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for hosting international competitions.
CAF has yet to confirm where the Comoros-Madagascar match will take place, but the shift away from a home setting represents a significant challenge for the Comorian side as they aim to secure qualification for AFCON in Morocco in 2025.
Playing on neutral ground may diminish the team’s home-field advantage in a crucial encounter, though the Coelacanths have maintained an optimistic outlook throughout their campaign.
Qualification on the Horizon
Despite these logistical hurdles, Comoros is in strong contention to secure one of the top qualifying spots for AFCON 2025.
Their performances in Group A have positioned them as serious contenders, especially following their recent success against Tunisia, which earned them four critical points.
Currently, Comoros sits in second place with six points, just one point behind group leaders Tunisia.
Their next opponent, Gambia, trails closely in third place with five points, while Madagascar rounds out the group with two points from four games.
A victory over Gambia in their next match could further solidify Comoros’ chances of advancing to the tournament’s final stages.
However, with the need to play their final matches away from home, Comoros will face additional challenges in their quest for qualification.
Should they secure a positive result against both Gambia and Madagascar, they will have an excellent opportunity to make history by securing a spot in AFCON 2025.
