Madagascar national football team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Madagascar

Nickname(s)	Barea
Association	Fédération Malagasy de Football
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	COSAFA (Southern Africa)
Head coach	Romuald Rakotondrabe
Captain	Ibrahim Amada
Most caps	Paulin Voavy (67)
Top scorer	Paulin Voavy (15)
Home stadium	Mahamasina Stadium Rabemananjara Stadium
FIFA code	MAD
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	107 1 (7 February 2019)
Highest	74 (December 1992)
Lowest	190 (March 2014)
Elo ranking
Current	121 2 (3 March 2019)
Highest	64 (December 1964)
Lowest	167 (April 2007)
First international
Madagascar 1–2 Mauritius  (Madagascar; Date Unknown 1947)
Biggest win
Madagascar 8–1 Congo  (Antananarivo, Madagascar; 19 April 1960)
Biggest defeat
Mauritius 7–0 Madagascar (Réunion; 31 July 1952)  Congo-Léopoldville 7–0 Madagascar  (Congo; 18 July 1965)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	1 (first in 2019)
Best result	Quarter-finals (2019)
African Nations Championship
Appearances	1 (first in 2022)
Best result	Third place (2022)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances	12 (first in 2002)
Best result	Third place (2015)
Medal record African Nations Championship Bronze 2022 Algeria COSAFA Cup Bronze 2015 South Africa

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 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 (now Burkina Faso) 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 (now Benin), 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.

Results and fixtures

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

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2023

2026 World Cup Qualification 17 November	Ghana	1–0	Madagascar	Kumasi, Ghana
16:00 UTC±0	Williams  90+6'	https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288282/288289/400017624		Stadium: Baba Yara Stadium Attendance: 45,000 Referee: Samir Guezzaz (Morocco)

2026 World Cup Qualification 20 November	Chad	0–3	Madagascar	Oujda, Morocco
20:00 UTC+1		https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288282/288289/400017629	Rakotoharimalala  10', 84' Lapoussin  90+1'	Stadium: Stade municipal d'Oujda Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Tewodros Mitiku (Ethiopia)

2024

International Friendly Tournament 22 March	Madagascar	1–0	Burundi	Antananarivo, Madagascar
13:00 UTC+3				Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium

International Friendly Tournament 25 March	Madagascar	0–2	Rwanda	Antananarivo, Madagascar
16:00 UTC+3				Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium

2026 World Cup Qualification 7 June	Madagascar	2–1	Comoros	Johannesburg, South Africa
18:00 UTC+2	Raveloson  1', 66'	https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288282/288289/400018209	Ben  90+4'	Stadium: FNB Stadium Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala Ngambo (DR Congo)

2026 World Cup Qualification 11 June	Madagascar	0–0	Mali	Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2		https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/match-centre/match/520/288282/288289/400018208		Stadium: FNB Stadium Referee: Patrice Tanguy Mebiame (Gabon)

2025 AFCON qualification 5 September	Tunisia	1–0	Madagascar	Tunis, Tunisia
20:00 UTC+1	Sassi  90+8'	https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2024/09/05/africa/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification/tunisia/madagascar/4406319/		Stadium: Hammadi Agrebi Stadium Referee: Jean-Jacques Ndala (RD Congo)

2025 AFCON qualification 9 September	Madagascar	1–1	Comoros	Tunis, Tunisia
16:00 UTC+1	Andriamatsinoro  9'	https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cup-of-nations/match-centre?competition=601&season=2024&match=2459848	M'Changama  41'	Stadium: Hammadi Agrebi Stadium Referee: Patrice Mebiame (Gabon)

2025

2026 World Cup Qualification March	Central African Republic	v	Madagascar

2026 World Cup Qualification March	Madagascar	v	Ghana

2026 World Cup Qualification September	Madagascar	v	Central African Republic

2026 World Cup Qualification September	Madagascar	v	Chad

2026 World Cup Qualification October	Comoros	v	Madagascar

2026 World Cup Qualification October	Mali	v	Madagascar

Coaching history

Coaching staff

Head coach	Romuald Rakotondrabe
Assistant coaches	Andry Razakandrianaina Hervé Andrianasimbola
Goalkeeping coach	Nirina Rakotobololona
Fitness coach	Michel Rajaonarinantenaina
Match analyst	Flavien Andriamanomenjanahary
Performance coach	Alphonse Rakotomanatsinoro
Team doctors	Dr. Stéphane Rajaonaribololona Dr. Hugo Rakotomalalanantenaina
Physiotherapists	Gaël Njivarabesananteinaina Christophe Rakotonantenaina Philippe Ravelonomenjanahary Razakaniaina Andriarakotobololona
Team coordinator	Faneva Andriatsima
Technical director	Éric Rabésandratana

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Gambia on 11 and 14 October 2024.

Caps and goals updated after the match against  Comoros on 9 Septembre 2024.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Téva Gardies	(2001-04-01) 1 April 2001 (age 24)	1	0	Paris
16	1GK	Zakanirina Rakotoasimbola	(1999-10-14) 14 October 1999 (age 25)	18	0	ASSM Elgeco Plus
23	1GK	Sonny Laiton	(2000-01-28) 28 January 2000 (age 25)	5	0	Auxerre
12	2DF	Thierno Millimono	(2002-08-16) 16 August 2002 (age 22)	2	0	US Mondorf-les-Bains
	2DF	Kenji-Van Boto	(1996-03-07) 7 March 1996 (age 29)	11	0	Pau
20	2DF	Louis Démoléon	(1997-04-16) 16 April 1997 (age 28)	7	0	Budoni
25	2DF	Soloniaina Rajo Nirina Razafindraibeharimihanta	(1997-03-23) 23 March 1997 (age 28)	29	0	Saint-Denis
21	2DF	Thomas Fontaine	(1991-05-08) 8 May 1991 (age 34)	32	1	Sochaux
	2DF	Davidson Gueguen	(2004-09-24) 24 September 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Villefranche Saint-Jean Beaulieu FC
12	2DF	Radoniaina Rabemanantsoa	(1997-12-17) 17 December 1997 (age 27)	10	0	ASSM Elgeco Plus
18	2DF	Sandro Trémoulet	(1999-11-18) 18 November 1999 (age 25)	0	0	Seraing
	3MF	Johan N'Zi	(1993-01-23) 23 January 1993 (age 32)	2	0	Lokomotiv Plovdiv
7	3MF	Rayan Raveloson	(1997-01-16) 16 January 1997 (age 28)	35	6	Auxerre
15	3MF	Ibrahim Amada (captain)	(1990-02-28) 28 February 1990 (age 35)	44	3	Ratchaburi
5	3MF	Rojo Andriamanjato	(1992-08-11) 11 August 1992 (age 32)	27	1	Saint-Pauloise
17	3MF	Clément Couturier	(1993-09-13) 13 September 1993 (age 31)	4	0	FC Villefranche Beaujolais
13	3MF	Marco Ilaimaharitra	(1995-07-26) 26 July 1995 (age 29)	25	3	Charleroi
11	4FW	El Hadari Raheriniaina	(2006-08-19) 19 August 2006 (age 18)	12	2	St Michel United FC
	4FW	Loïc Lapoussin	(1996-03-27) 27 March 1996 (age 29)	21	1	Union SG
8	4FW	Arnaud Randrianantenaina	(2001-01-03) 3 January 2001 (age 24)	17	2	El Gouna
	4FW	Nicolas Fontaine	(2000-02-07) 7 February 2000 (age 25)	0	0	RAAL La Louvière
	4FW	Warren Caddy	(1997-04-09) 9 April 1997 (age 28)	3	0	Lausanne Ouchy
2	4FW	Carolus Andriamahitsinoro	(1989-07-06) 6 July 1989 (age 35)	49	12	Al-Kawkab
19	4FW	Tendry Randrianarijaona	(1998-03-19) 19 March 1998 (age 27)	24	4	Disciples
10	4FW	Njiva Rakotoharimalala	(1992-08-06) 6 August 1992 (age 32)	50	14	Ratchaburi

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Madagascar in the last year.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Allan Rakotovazaha	(1999-10-03) 3 October 1999 (age 25)	0	0	US Créteil (res)	v.  Chad, 20 November 2023
GK	Melvin Adrien	(1993-08-30) 30 August 1993 (age 31)	27	0	Thonon Evian	v.  Chad, 20 November 2023
GK	Mathyas Randriamamy	(2003-04-23) 23 April 2003 (age 22)	2	0	Ermis Aradippou	v.  Ghana, 17 November 2023
DF	Tantely Randrianiaina	(1989-02-13) 13 February 1989 (age 36)	36	0	Disciples	v.  Burundi, 22 March 2024
DF	Fabien Boyer	(1991-04-12) 12 April 1991 (age 34)	6	0	Saint-Pierroise	v.  Mali, 10 June 2024
DF	Tantely Rabarijaona	(1995-02-17) 17 February 1995 (age 30)	19	0	CFFA	v.  Burundi, 22 March 2024
DF	Nomena Andriatiana	(2000-02-06) 6 February 2000 (age 25)	0	0	Aubagne FC	v.  Mali, 10 June 2024
DF	Romain Métanire	(1990-03-28) 28 March 1990 (age 35)	27	0	Spokane Velocity	v.  Mali, 10 June 2024
DF	Andriniaina Amourson	(2000-01-06) 6 January 2000 (age 25)	0	0	Fosa Juniors	v.  Burundi, 22 March 2024
DF	Titouan Fortun	(2004-01-28) 28 January 2004 (age 21)	6	0	Dijon FCO	v.  Comoros, 9 September 2024
DF	Tony Randriamanampisoa	(1994-07-17) 17 July 1994 (age 30)	4	0	ASSM Elgeco Plus	v.  Comoros, 9 September 2024
DF	Robin Busset	(2000-02-25) 25 February 2000 (age 25)	0	0	Nyon	v.  Burundi, 22 March 2024
MF	Tsiry Randriatsiferana	(1996-08-05) 5 August 1996 (age 28)	27	6	Saint-Pauloise	v.  Comoros, 9 September 2024
MF	Ando Manoelantsoa	(1991-04-06) 6 April 1991 (age 34)	16	0	Saint-Pierroise	v.  Mali, 10 June 2024
MF	Andy Rakotondrajoa	(2003-07-24) 24 July 2003 (age 21)	6	0	Disciples	v.  Comoros, 9 September 2024
MF	Lalaïna Rafanomezantsoa	(1998-03-10) 10 March 1998 (age 27)	19	1	CFFA	v.  Burundi, 22 March 2024
MF	Pierre-Michael Rakotoarisoa	(1996-03-27) 27 March 1996 (age 29)	7	0	Fosa Juniors	v.  Burundi, 22 March 2024
MF	Baggio Rakotoharisoa	(1996-01-24) 24 January 1996 (age 29)	21	0	Jeanne d'Arc	v.  Burundi, 22 March 2024
FW	Hakim Abdallah	(1998-01-09) 9 January 1998 (age 27)	14	1	Dinamo București	v.  Mali, 10 June 2024
FW	Angelo Andrianantenaina	(1996-08-05) 5 August 1996 (age 28)	1	0	AS Excelsior	v.  Mali, 10 June 2024
FW	Dorian Bertrand	(1993-05-21) 21 May 1993 (age 32)	8	2	Saint-Denis	v.  Chad, 20 November 2023
FW	Jean-Yves Razafindrakoto	(1997-08-16) 16 August 1997 (age 27)	12	3	ASSM Elgeco Plus	v.  Burundi, 22 March 2024
FW	Julien Pontgerard	(1997-05-04) 4 May 1997 (age 28)	0	0	AS Brestois	v.  Mali, 10 June 2024
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.

Records

Players in bold are still active with Madagascar.

Most appearances

Paulin Voavy is Madagascar's top goalscorer and their most capped player.

Top goalscorers

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GR
1930 to 1958	Part of  France									Part of  France
as  Malagasy Republic										as  Malagasy Republic
1962	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1966 and 1970	Did not enter									Did not enter
1974	Withdrew									Withdrew
as  Madagascar										as  Madagascar
1978	Did not enter									Did not enter
1982	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	3	4	details
1986										2	1	0	1	1	1	details
1990	Did not enter									Did not enter
1994	Did not qualify									4	3	0	1	7	3	details
1998										2	0	1	1	3	4	details
2002										10	3	0	7	7	16	details
2006										2	0	1	1	3	4	details
2010										8	3	3	2	12	9	details
2014										2	1	0	1	2	3	details
2018										4	1	2	1	7	7	details
2022										6	1	1	4	4	9	details
2026	To be determined									4	2	1	1	5	2	details
2030										To be determined						details
2034																details
Total	–	0/15	–	–	–	–	–	–		46	15	10	21	51	62	–

Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GR
1957	Part of  France									Part of  France
1959
1962	Not affiliated to CAF									Not affiliated to CAF
1963
1965	Did not enter									Did not enter
1968
1970
1972	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	3	5	details
1974										2	1	0	1	3	4	details
1976	Withdrew									Withdrew
1978	Did not enter									Did not enter
1980	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	3	6	details
1982										4	2	1	1	4	7	details
1984										4	1	1	2	3	4	details
1986										2	0	0	2	2	6	details
1988										2	1	0	1	2	3	details
1990	Withdrew									Withdrew
1992	Did not qualify									5	2	2	1	3	2	details
1994	Did not enter									Did not enter
1996	Withdrew during qualifiers									Withdrew during qualifiers
1998	Banned for withdrawal in 1996									Banned for withdrawal in 1996
2000	Did not qualify									8	2	3	3	9	12	details
2002										8	2	2	4	7	8	details
2004										4	2	0	2	2	8	details
2006										2	0	1	1	3	4	details
2008										4	0	0	4	0	14	details
2010										8	3	3	2	12	9	details
2012										6	0	1	5	4	14	details
2013										2	0	0	2	1	7	details
2015										2	1	0	1	2	2	details
2017										6	0	3	3	5	12	details
2019	Quarter-finals	6th	5	2	2	1	7	7		8	5	1	2	12	10	details
2021	Did not qualify									6	2	2	2	9	9	details
2023										6	0	3	3	1	9	details
2025	To be determined									To be determined
2027
2029
Total	Quarter-finals	1/34	5	2	2	1	7	7		93	26	23	44	90	155	–

African Nations Championship

African Nations Championship record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	GR
2009	Did not enter									Did not enter
2011	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	0	2	Details
2014	Did not enter									Did not enter
2016
2018	Did not qualify									6	3	2	1	6	3	Details
2020										4	2	0	2	4	5	Details
2022	Third place	3rd	5	4	0	1	9	3		4	3	1	0	6	1	Details
Total	Third place	1/7	5	4	0	1	9	3		16	9	3	4	16	11	—

African Games

African Games record									Qualification record
Year	Result	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GR
1965	8th	3	0	0	3	0	13		2	1	0	1	6	3	details
1973	Withdrew								Withdrew
1978
1987	6th	3	1	0	2	4	5		2	1	0	1	3	3	details
1991 to 2015	U-23 Tournament								U-23 Tournament
2019 – present	U-20 Tournament								U-20 Tournament
Total	2/4	6	1	0	5	4	18		4	2	0	2	9	6	—

Indian Ocean Island Games

Indian Ocean Island Games record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1979	Did not enter
1985	Fourth place	4th	2	1	0	1	2	3
1990	Champions	1st	4	3	1	0	12	1
1993	Champions	1st	4	4	0	0	10	2
1998	Runners-up	2nd	4	3	1	0	10	3
2003	Group stage	5th	2	0	1	1	2	4
2007	Runners-up	2nd	4	2	2	0	7	0
2011	Group stage	7th	2	0	1	1	2	3
2015	Fourth place	4th	5	1	1	3	6	8
2019	Group stage	5th	2	0	2	0	2	2
2023	Champions	1st	4	3	1	0	7	3
Total	3 Titles	10/11	33	17	10	6	60	29

COSAFA Cup

COSAFA Cup record
Year	Round	Result	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2000	Excluded
2001
2002	Quarter-finals	5th	2	1	1	0	3	2
2003	Quarter-finals	7th	2	1	0	1	2	3
2004	Round 1	11th	1	0	0	1	0	2
2005	Round 1	10th	1	0	0	1	0	2
2006	Round 1	13th	2	0	0	2	0	4
2007	Round 1	8th	2	1	0	1	5	1
2008	Fourth place	4th	6	2	2	2	6	7
2009	Did not enter
2013
2015	Third place	3rd	6	4	1	1	11	7
2016	Group stage	11th	3	1	1	1	1	1
2017	Group stage	9th	3	2	1	0	6	1
2018	Fourth place	4th	6	2	2	2	4	4
2019	Did not enter
2021	Did not enter
2022	Quarter-finals	5th	2	0	0	2	4	1
2023	Did not enter
Total	Third place	12/22	36	14	8	14	42	35

Honours

Continental

• African Nations Championship
  • Third Place (1): 2022

Regional

• COSAFA Cup
  • Third Place (1): 2015
• Indian Ocean Island Games
  • Gold medal (3): 1990, 1993, 2023
  • Silver medal (2): 1998, 2007
• Triangulaire
  • Champions (3): 1955, 1958, 1963
  • Runners-up (7): 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956
  • Third Place (3): 1950, 1954, 1957

See also

In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Madagascar para niños