CAN 2021: Madagascar on the right track?

Lalaina Nomenjanahary double goalscorer in the match won (6-2) by Madagascar against Niger (Illustration). Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

The beautiful course of Madagascar during the CAN 2019 in Egypt is now ancient history. Now, it is a question of going ahead to obtain a new ticket which will allow the Baréa to shine once again in the final phase, during CAN 2021.

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The month of March will undoubtedly be an important moment for the Madagascar team, which could obtain new points during the double confrontation against Côte d'Ivoire (go on March 27 to Abidjan, return on March 31 in Madagascar). At the head of group K of the CAN 2021 qualifiers , the Madagascans beat Ethiopia and Niger in the first two days. Will they continue their momentum?

Three new offensive players

It is to be hoped that the crisis which is currently shaking Malagasy football with the escape of its president Raoul Rabekoto who is being sued by the justice system due to several complaints of embezzlement filed with the Anti-corruption pole, one of which emanates from his former employer from 2008 to 2019, the National Social Insurance Fund (Cnaps), does not prejudice the team of Nicolas Dupuis, the coach.

The latter has unveiled a list of 20 players playing abroad who will travel to Côte d'Ivoire, supplemented by 5 locals for the return match at home. Alongside the usual players who made the heyday of the selection in Egypt, three new faces appear: Hery Bastien evolves in Northern Ireland with Linfield, Hakim Abdallah (Nantes), and Alexandre Ramalingom who plays Virton in the second division Belgian. " They have great qualities and their offensive vocation will be an asset, " said Nicolas Dupuis at a press conference.

Take points as quickly as possible

Believing that with 10 points the team can qualify, Nicolas Dupuis hopes for a victory and a draw during the next four days. And why not facing the Ivory Coast? " We will try to create a surprise against one of the best teams on the continent, " he said. Even if we know that we are not going to be favorites . " He adds: “ Our players had the merit of starting this qualification campaign well by taking 6 points. But you have to be clear about the superior quality of Côte d'Ivoire. Above all, they are back to the wall, because they only have 3 points at the moment. Even if Côte d'Ivoire beats us twice, we still have chances . ” But the main idea remains to " take points as quickly as possible" as for CAN 2019 .

At the time, the Barea were the first to validate their ticket for the final phase in the land of the Pharaohs. “ Beyond the opponent, we will have to play our game as against Niger (6-2). You have to go to Abidjan with the idea of ​​scoring, ”concludes Nicolas Dupuis.

Like Madagascar, Côte d'Ivoire was eliminated in the quarterfinals during the last CAN 2019. It was against Algeria , the future winner.

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