Madagascar salvaged their TotalEnergies African Nations Championship campaign from the brink of elimination with a dramatic 2-0 victory over Central African Republic that transforms their Group B prospects and condemns their opponents to another early tournament exit.
The Barea’s late surge at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam – one of the venues serving the delayed CHAN PAMOJA 2024 across co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda – demonstrated the tournament’s capacity for late drama as substitutes Toky Rakotondraibe and Lalaina Rafanomezantsoa struck within six minutes of each other to break CAR’s stubborn resistance.
Playing on CAR’s Independence Day in what added symbolic weight to an already crucial encounter, both sides entered knowing that defeat could spell the end of their continental ambitions. Madagascar had managed just one point from their opening two fixtures, whilst CAR remained pointless and searching for their first goal of the tournament.
The victory lifts Madagascar off the bottom of Group B with four points from three matches, keeping alive their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals in the tournament that finally launched in August after being postponed from February. For CAR, the defeat confirms their third consecutive group-stage elimination from CHAN, extending a disappointing record that will prompt serious questions about their tournament preparation.
The opening period was characterised more by endeavour than execution, with both sides creating half-chances but lacking the quality to capitalise. CAR, desperate to avoid another early setback after conceding inside 12 minutes in both previous matches, started positively through Ange Zoumara and Juvénal Pouguy, whilst Madagascar’s Jean Ranaivoson forced an early save from goalkeeper Mauril Abimala.
Madagascar coach Romuald Rakotondrabe’s decision to make four substitutions at half-time proved inspired, injecting the attacking urgency his side had been lacking. Captain Dax’s return from suspension provided leadership, but it was the fresh legs from the bench that ultimately made the difference in a match that seemed destined for stalemate.
CAR actually came closest to breaking the deadlock early in the second half, with Ghislain Mounguide twice testing Michel Ramandimbisoa in the Madagascar goal. One effort was clawed away from the top corner in what proved to be CAR’s best opportunity to change their tournament fortunes.
As the match wore on, Madagascar gradually gained control through patient build-up play that forced Abimala into increasingly desperate saves. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 84th minute when Mamisoa Rakotoson’s blocked effort fell kindly to Rakotondraibe, who demonstrated the composure of a seasoned campaigner by sweeping the ball into the bottom corner.
CAR’s response was predictably desperate, with the symbolic significance of playing on their Independence Day providing additional motivation for a late equaliser. Miambaye Fourdeau went close with a header, but their attacking gamble left crucial spaces at the back that Madagascar exploited ruthlessly.
The decisive moment came in stoppage time when Rakotondraibe turned provider, feeding Rafanomezantsoa for a clinical finish that sealed Madagascar’s first victory of the tournament and condemned CAR to another goalless defeat.
Madagascar’s transformation from potential early casualties to genuine quarter-final contenders epitomises the unpredictable nature that has already defined this tournament. Their four points from three matches puts them in contention for progression, though their fate may depend on tonight’s clash between Burkina Faso and Mauritania.
For CAR, the defeat represents another missed opportunity to make an impact at continental level. Their failure to score in three matches and inability to build on promising positions suggests fundamental issues that extend beyond individual performances to systemic problems in their approach to tournament football.
The result ensures that Group B remains fascinatingly poised ahead of the final fixtures, with Madagascar’s late heroics providing yet another example of CHAN’s capacity to deliver dramatic twists when they are least expected.
