Madagascar has secured its place in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), advancing despite a tense 1-0 defeat to Eswatini on Sunday, December 29.
The result came in the second leg of their qualifying tie, but Madagascar’s earlier 2-0 victory in the away leg provided enough of a cushion to see them through.
The Barea, who will miss the AFCON 2025 after failing to qualify, managed to redeem themselves with this qualification for the prestigious competition, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
However, their qualification journey proved far more nerve-wracking than they might have anticipated.
After their dominant performance in Eswatini, where they secured a 2-0 win, Madagascar entered the return leg at home with a relatively comfortable lead.
A draw would have been sufficient to guarantee their spot in the tournament, but the situation became far more precarious as Eswatini fought back.
In front of a home crowd, the Malagasy team struggled to assert their dominance and were dealt a blow late in the game when Eswatini scored in the final five minutes.
The goal intensified the pressure on the Barea, who now needed to protect their aggregate lead with a single goal separating the teams.
However, Madagascar’s resilience shone through in the form of their goalkeeper, Nina.
In the dying moments of the match, with Eswatini pushing hard for an equaliser, Nina delivered two crucial saves to preserve her team’s advantage.
Her heroics were key in ensuring that Madagascar would qualify despite the narrow defeat, keeping their hopes alive in the final phase of the qualifiers.
This qualification marks a significant achievement for Madagascar, who will now participate in their second-ever CHAN final tournament.
The Barea’s narrow survival in the qualifiers was a reminder of the unpredictable nature of football, but their perseverance and Nina’s exceptional performance ultimately secured their place in the 2024 competition.
