Madagascar will be no easy ride for Kenya

Madagascar showed determination and fighting spirit to reach the quarter-finals of the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan), where they will now face Kenya in Nairobi on Friday.

Drawn in a competitive Group B alongside co-hosts Tanzania, Mauritania, Central African Republic and Burkina Faso, many wrote off the Barea after they collected just one point in their opening two matches.

They started with a 0-0 draw against Mauritania before suffering a narrow 2-1 loss to Tanzania, leaving them staring at an early exit.

However, Madagascar revived their campaign with a convincing 2-0 win over Central African Republic, a result that kept their hopes alive heading into the final group game.

With qualification on the line, they faced Burkina Faso in a tense do-or-die clash.

Madagascar showed composure and bravery under pressure to secure a vital 2-1 victory that confirmed their place in the last eight.

Finishing second in Group B with seven points, just behind table toppers Tanzania, the Barea once again underlined their growing reputation as one of Africa’s rising football forces. This will be their second consecutive appearance in the Chan knockout stage.

Madagascar head coach Romuald Rakotondrabe praised his players for their fighting spirit after the victory over Burkina Faso.

“We won the game but it wasn't straightforward at all. Fortunately, we scored two goals, but the game was very difficult. Our players played with character, and a will to continue this competition,” he said.

Rakotondrabe also saluted the quality of opposition in Group B. “There is no team in our group that didn't deserve to qualify. I take my hat off to all the teams in our group for the high level of football they exhibited,” he added.

Now, Madagascar’s reward for their hard work is a tough quarter-final against unbeaten Group A winners Kenya.