Madagascar national football team


The Madagascar national football team, nicknamed Barea after the island's zebu, is the national team of Madagascar and is controlled by the Malagasy Football Federation. It has never qualified for the finals of the World Cup. It took part in its first Africa Cup of Nations in 2019. Among its biggest wins was a 1–0 home victory over Egypt in the qualification rounds of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations until being surpassed by a recent shocking 2–0 win over Nigeria in the group stage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Reflecting the official name of the country at the time, the team was known as the Malagasy Republic national football team between 1958 and 1975.

History

Madagascar made its debut in 1947 in a home match against Mauritius which was lost 2–1. The game was part of a Triangulaire tournament between Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion. Madagascar's second match was at home to Reunion and saw their first ever win, 4–2. The triangular tournament was staged every year until 1958, and Madagascar's highest-scoring game was on 13 July 1953 when they beat Reunion 6–4 at home. Their worst loss was on 31 July 1952 when they lost 7–0 to Mauritius in Reunion.
Madagascar played against opposition different from Mauritius or Reunion for the first time in 1960, as part of a tournament between French-speaking nations held on the island. In their first match on 15 April 1960 they beat the Upper Volta 6–1. The second game was a quarter-final against France's amateur side on 17 April and was lost 2–1. On 19 April Madagascar beat the Congo 8–1 in the third-place play-off.
In April 1963, Madagascar entered another competition for French-speaking countries, this time in Senegal, and was placed in a group with Dahomey, Liberia and Chad. They opened with a 1–0 win over Dahomey on 11 April, and then beat Chad 2–1 on 13 April and Liberia 3–1 on 15 April. In the semi-finals, Madagascar were beaten 2–1 by Tunisia on 19 April, and then lost 4–1 to France's amateur team in the third-place play-off on 21 April.
In September 1963 the Triangulaire between Madagascar, Reunion and Mauritius was reinstated for the first time since 1958. On 15 September they beat Reunion 6–1 at home, and on 18 September drew 1–1 to Mauritius in a home game which was abandoned.
On 16 October 2018, Madagascar qualified to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history, after they won 1–0 against Equatorial Guinea. During their debut match against Guinea on 22 June 2019, Anicet Abel scored Madagascar's first-ever AFCON goal and secured their first point of the competition with a 2–2 draw against Guinea. The team defeated Burundi in their second match and followed it up with a 2–0 victory over the Super Eagles of Nigeria to top Group B. Then Madagascar advanced to quarter-finals after beating DR Congo in the round of 16. The team's successful performance was coined by pundits as the Iceland of Africa, resembling the shockingly successful debut of Iceland in UEFA Euro 2016. However, Madagascar's dream ended abruptly after suffering a 0–3 defeat at the hand of another former champion, Tunisia.

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

Africa Cup of Nations

African Nations Championship

African Games

Indian Ocean Island Games

COSAFA Cup

Fixtures and results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2019

Records

#PlayerCapsGoalsCareer
1Mamisoa Razafindrakoto5901998–2011
2Paulin Voavy54132003–
3Gervais Randrianarisoa4902005–
4Jimmy Radafison4702000–2011
4Faneva Imà Andriatsima47142005–2019
5Eric-Julien Rakotondrabe4401999–2011
5Lalaina Nomenjanahary4452006–
6Tobisoa Njakanirina4002014–
7Jean Chrysostome Raharison3902001–2015
8Rado Rasoanaivo3871992–2003
8Jean Dieu-Donné Randrianasolo3802011–
8Njiva Rakotoharimalala3892014–
9Carolus Andriamatsinoro37112009–
10Harry Randrianaivo34121990–2003
10Dominique Rakotonandrasana3401992–2003

#PlayerGoalsCapsCareer
1Faneva Imà Andriatsima14472005–2019
2Paulin Voavy13542003–
3Harry Randrianaivo12341990–2003
4Ruphin Menakely11241998–2003
4Carolus Andriamatsinoro11372009–
5Njiva Rakotoharimalala9382014–
6Sarivahy Vombola8282015–
7Rado Rasoanaivo7381992–2003
8Praxis Rabemananjara6132001-2008
9Lalaina Nomenjanahary5442006–
10Yvan Rajoarimanana4132008-
10Jimmy Simouri4212011-
10Rhino Randriamanjaka492015-

Current squad

for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Ivory Coast on 27 March 2020 and on 31 March 2020.
Caps and goals updated after the match against Niger on 19 November 2019.

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Madagascar.
DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up.

INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.

PRE Preliminary squad.

RET Player has retired from international football.

SUS Suspended from the national team.

List of coaches