Madagascar cruised to a 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea on Monday in their final match of 2025.
The Barea, who fell short of reaching the African playoffs for the 2026 World Cup and missed out on qualification for the 2025 AFCON, showed renewed energy in this friendly encounter in Antalya, Turkey.
Coach Corentin Martins opted for an unfamiliar 3-5-2 setup, a tactical shift that paid off almost immediately.
Johan N’Zi opened the scoring in the 30th minute, and just two minutes later, defender Eshan Kari doubled the advantage to give Madagascar firm control of the match.
The side looked far more settled compared to last month’s 4-1 loss to Mali, a defeat that ended their World Cup hopes.
Despite missing key players such as El Hadary Raheriniaina, Andy Pelmard, Njiva Rakotoharimalala, and Warren Caddy, Madagascar delivered a composed performance that reflects their steady improvement.
Their next assignment will come in March when the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations begin.
Equatorial Guinea, on the other hand, continue to struggle amid internal issues within the team.
Their preparations for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations look uncertain as they prepare to face Algeria, Burkina Faso, and Sudan in Group E.
