Madagascar’s national football team is determined to secure its place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with head coach Rôrô Rakotondrabe setting his sights on winning their first two qualifying matches against Tunisia and Comoros. The Malagasy coach has made it clear that nothing less than six points from these encounters will be acceptable as the Barea aim to make their second-ever appearance in the prestigious tournament.
Speaking at a press conference in Isoraka, Rakotondrabe emphasized the importance of a strong start in the qualifiers, which kick off in September. “We are aiming for a second participation in the AFCON.
It is therefore imperative to win these first two matches to obtain six points,” the coach asserted, signaling his confidence in the team’s ability to rise to the occasion.
Madagascar, which made its debut in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, has not qualified for the subsequent editions in 2021 and 2023.
The 2019 tournament was a historic milestone for the Barea, as they reached the quarter-finals in their first-ever appearance.
The memory of that success has fueled the team’s desire to return to the continental stage, and the upcoming qualifiers represent a crucial opportunity to realize that ambition.
The Barea will begin their qualifying campaign on September 5 with a challenging away match against Tunisia, one of Africa’s football powerhouses.
Four days later, on September 9, they will host Comoros in what promises to be another fiercely contested match.
Both games are seen as critical to Madagascar’s hopes of advancing to AFCON 2025, set to take place in Morocco.
Rakotondrabe is placing his faith in a cohesive and motivated squad to achieve these goals. The coach plans to start the training camp on September 2, shortly before the official announcement of the final roster.
“I trust these players who answered the call. We will also have to prepare ourselves mentally to face the Tunisians, and we will start this preparation on September 2.
For the local players, we will try to group them together,” Rakotondrabe explained, highlighting the importance of mental readiness alongside physical preparation.
As Madagascar prepares for these pivotal matches, the stakes are high. Success in the qualifiers would not only secure their place in AFCON 2025 but also rekindle the passion and pride that the team inspired during their remarkable 2019 campaign.
The Barea’s journey begins in just a few weeks, and all eyes will be on how they perform under the pressure of these crucial fixtures.
