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Madagascar national football team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Madagascar women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
Madagascar
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Barea
Association Fédération Malagasy de Football
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation COSAFA
(Southern Africa)
Head coach Nicolas Dupuis
Captain Anicet Abel
Most caps Paulin Voavy (66)
Top scorer Paulin Voavy (15)
Home stadium Mahamasina Stadium
Rabemananjara Stadium
FIFA code MAD
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 107 Decrease 1 (7 February 2019)
Highest 74 (December 1992)
Lowest 190 (March 2014)
Elo ranking
Current 121 Decrease 2 (3 March 2019)
Highest 64 (December 1964)
Lowest 167 (April 2007)
First international
Madagascar 1–2 Mauritius 
(Madagascar; Date Unknown 1947)
Biggest win
 Malagasy Republic 8–1 Congo 
(Antananarivo, Madagascar; 19 April 1960)
Biggest defeat
 Mauritius 7–0 Madagascar
(Réunion; 31 July 1952)
 Congo DR 7–0 Malagasy Republic 
(Congo; 18 July 1965)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances 1 (first in 2019)
Best result Quarter-finals (2019)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances 11 (first in 2002)
Best result Third place (2015)
Medal record
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.

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.

2021

2022

2023

Coaching history

  • West Germany Peter Schnittger (1978–1985)
  • Madagascar Justin Rasoloharimahefa (1994)
  • Madagascar Claude "Ntsoa" Ravelomanantsoa (–2001)
  • Madagascar Vincent Randriamirado (2001)
  • Madagascar Jeremia Randriambololona (2001)
  • Switzerland Hans Heiniger (2002–2003)
  • Madagascar Hervé Arsène (2007–2008)
  • Madagascar Mickael Nivoson Andrianasy (2008)
  • Madagascar Jeremia Randriambololona (2008)
  • France Jean-Paul Rabier (2010–2011)
  • Madagascar Mosa (2011)
  • Madagascar Frank Rajaonarisamba (2011–2012)
  • France Auguste Raux (2012–2014)
  • Madagascar Frank Rajaonarisamba (2014–2016)
  • France Auguste Raux (2016–2017)
  • France Nicolas Dupuis (2017–2021)
  • Madagascar Éric Rabésandratana (2021–2022)
  • France Nicolas Dupuis (2022–present)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Ghana and Angola on 1 and 5 June 2022.

Caps and goals updated after the match against Angola on 5 June 2022.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Melvin Adrien (1993-08-30) 30 August 1993 (age 30) 20 0 France Thonon Evian
1GK Nina Razakanirina (1999-10-14) 14 October 1999 (age 24) 2 0 Madagascar Fosa Juniors
1GK Mathyas Randriamamy (2003-04-23) 23 April 2003 (age 20) 1 0 France Paris Saint-Germain U-19
2DF Jérôme Mombris (1987-11-27) 27 November 1987 (age 36) 24 0 France Gazélec Ajaccio
2DF Thomas Fontaine (1991-05-08) 8 May 1991 (age 32) 23 1 Bulgaria Beroe
2DF Tantely Randrianiana (1989-02-13) 13 February 1989 (age 34) 18 0 Madagascar CNaPS Sport
2DF Rajo Razafindrabe (1997-03-23) 23 March 1997 (age 26) 6 0 Madagascar Zanak'Ala FC
2DF Fabien Boyer (1991-04-12) 12 April 1991 (age 32) 4 0 Réunion AS Excelsior
2DF Sylvio Ouassiero (1994-05-07) 7 May 1994 (age 29) 4 0 Luxembourg F91 Dudelange
2DF Dorian Bertrand (1993-05-21) 21 May 1993 (age 30) 3 0 Romania Argeș Pitești
2DF Rémy Vita (2001-04-01) 1 April 2001 (age 22) 0 0 Netherlands Fortuna Sittard
3MF Ibrahim Amada (1990-02-28) 28 February 1990 (age 33) 35 2 Saudi Arabia Al-Qadsiah
3MF Rayan Raveloson (1997-01-16) 16 January 1997 (age 26) 20 2 France Auxerre
3MF Anicet Abel (captain) (1990-03-13) 13 March 1990 (age 33) 19 3 Bulgaria Beroe
3MF Marco Ilaimaharitra (1995-07-26) 26 July 1995 (age 28) 19 2 Belgium Charleroi
3MF Loïc Lapoussin (1996-03-27) 27 March 1996 (age 27) 11 0 Belgium Union SG
3MF Rojolalaina Andraiamanjato (1992-08-11) 11 August 1992 (age 31) 7 1 Madagascar ASSM
3MF Bastien Héry (1992-03-23) 23 March 1992 (age 31) 7 0 Republic of Ireland Galway United
3MF Lalaina Rafanomezantsoa (1998-03-10) 10 March 1998 (age 25) 0 0 Madagascar CFFA
4FW Paulin Voavy (1987-11-10) 10 November 1987 (age 36) 65 14 Egypt Ghazl El Mahalla
4FW Njiva Rakotoharimalala (1992-08-06) 6 August 1992 (age 31) 46 12 Saudi Arabia Al-Jandal
4FW Carolus Andriamatsinoro (1989-07-06) 6 July 1989 (age 34) 44 11 Saudi Arabia Najran
4FW Fabrice Rakotondraibe (1993-08-17) 17 August 1993 (age 30) 10 1 Réunion Saint-Denis
4FW Arnaud Randrianantenaina (2001-01-03) 3 January 2001 (age 22) 9 2 Egypt El Gouna
4FW Alexandre Ramalingom (1993-03-17) 17 March 1993 (age 30) 5 2 France Sedan
4FW Julio Donisa (1994-01-15) 15 January 1994 (age 29) 2 0 Romania Argeș Pitești
4FW Tsilavina Fanomezantsoa (1999-07-21) 21 July 1999 (age 24) 2 0 Madagascar Fosa Juniors

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 Razakanirina Rakotoasimbola (1999-10-14) 14 October 1999 (age 24) 0 0 Madagascar ASSM v.  Tanzania, 16 November 2021
GK Yannick Pandor (2001-05-01) 1 May 2001 (age 22) 0 0 France Lens B v.  Tanzania, 16 November 2021
DF Gervais Randrianarisoa (1984-11-07) 7 November 1984 (age 39) 51 0 Réunion La Tamponnaise v.  Tanzania, 16 November 2021
DF Pascal Razakanantenaina (1987-04-19) 19 April 1987 (age 36) 41 2 Réunion JS Saint-Pierroise v.  Tanzania, 16 November 2021
DF Romain Métanire (1990-03-28) 28 March 1990 (age 33) 22 0 United States Minnesota United v.  Tanzania, 16 November 2021
DF Jérémy Morel (1984-04-02) 2 April 1984 (age 39) 12 1 Retired v.  Tanzania, 16 November 2021
DF Nomena Andriantiana (2000-02-06) 6 February 2000 (age 23) 0 0 France Aubagne v.  Tanzania, 16 November 2021
DF Jules Solonantenaina (1999-03-07) 7 March 1999 (age 24) 0 0 Madagascar CFFA v.  Tanzania, 16 November 2021
DF Théodin Ramanjary (1996-08-16) 16 August 1996 (age 27) 5 0 Madagascar Fosa Juniors v.  Congo DR, 10 October 2021
MF Lalaïna Nomenjanahary (1986-01-16) 16 January 1986 (age 37) 47 5 Retired v.  Tanzania, 16 November 2021
MF Tsiry Razafindrasata (1995-09-14) 14 September 1995 (age 28) 1 0 Madagascar Fosa Juniors v.  Tanzania, 16 November 2021
MF Zotsara Randriambololona (1994-04-22) 22 April 1994 (age 29) 21 0 Moldova Bălți v.  Tanzania, 7 September 2021
MF Dimitry Caloin (1990-05-08) 8 May 1990 (age 33) 11 0 France Angoulême v.  Tanzania, 7 September 2021
FW Hakim Abdallah (1998-01-09) 9 January 1998 (age 25) 10 1 Belgium Virton v.  Tanzania, 7 September 2021
FW Henri Charles Gladyson (1989-04-26) 26 April 1989 (age 34) 4 0 Réunion AS Excelsior v.  Tanzania, 7 September 2021
FW Koloina Razafidranaivo (2000-03-25) 25 March 2000 (age 23) 0 0 Madagascar CFFA v.  Tanzania, 7 September 2021

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.

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA GR
Uruguay 1930 Part of  France Part of  France
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
England 1966 Did not enter Did not enter
Mexico 1970
West Germany 1974 Withdrew Withdrew
Argentina 1978 Did not enter Did not enter
Spain 1982 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 3 4 details
Mexico 1986 2 1 0 1 1 1 details
Italy 1990 Did not enter Did not enter
United States 1994 Did not qualify 4 3 0 1 7 3 details
France 1998 2 0 1 1 3 4 details
South Korea Japan 2002 10 3 0 7 7 16 details
Germany 2006 2 0 1 1 3 4 details
South Africa 2010 8 3 3 2 12 9 details
Brazil 2014 2 1 0 1 2 3 details
Russia 2018 4 1 2 1 7 7 details
Qatar 2022 6 1 1 4 4 9 details
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Total – 0/21 – – – – – – 42 13 9 20 46 60 –

Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record Africa Cup of Nations qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D* L GF GA GR
Sudan 1957 Part of  France Part of  France
Egypt 1959
Ethiopia 1962 Not affiliated to CAF Not affiliated to CAF
Ghana 1963
Tunisia 1965 Did not enter Did not enter
Ethiopia 1968
Sudan 1970
Cameroon 1972 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 3 5 details
Egypt 1974 2 1 0 1 3 4 details
Ethiopia 1976 Withdrew Withdrew
Ghana 1978 Did not enter Did not enter
Nigeria 1980 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 3 6 details
Libya 1982 4 2 1 1 4 7 details
Côte d'Ivoire 1984 4 1 1 2 3 4 details
Egypt 1986 2 0 0 2 2 6 details
Morocco 1988 2 1 0 1 2 3 details
Algeria 1990 Withdrew Withdrew
Senegal 1992 Did not qualify 5 2 2 1 3 2 details
Tunisia 1994 Did not enter Did not enter
South Africa 1996 Withdrew during qualifiers Withdrew during qualifiers
Burkina Faso 1998 Banned for withdrawal from qualifiers in 1996 Banned for withdrawal from qualifiers in 1996
Ghana Nigeria 2000 Did not qualify 8 2 3 3 9 12 details
Mali 2002 8 2 2 4 7 8 details
Tunisia 2004 4 2 0 2 2 8 details
Egypt 2006 2 0 1 1 3 4 details
Ghana 2008 4 0 0 4 0 14 details
Angola 2010 8 3 3 2 12 9 details
Gabon 2012 6 0 1 5 4 14 details
South Africa 2013 2 0 0 2 1 7 details
Equatorial Guinea 2015 2 1 0 1 2 2 details
Gabon 2017 6 0 3 3 5 12 details
Egypt 2019 Quarter-finals 6th 5 2 2 1 7 7 8 5 1 2 12 10 details
Cameroon 2021 Did not qualify 6 2 2 2 9 9 details
Côte d'Ivoire 2023 To be determined To be determined
Guinea 2025
Total Quarter-finals 1/33 5 2 2 1 7 7 87 26 20 41 89 146 –

African Nations Championship

African Nations Championship record Africa Nations Championship qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D* L GF GA GR
Côte d'Ivoire 2009 Did not enter Did not enter
Sudan 2011 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 0 2 details
South Africa 2014 Did not enter Did not enter
Rwanda 2016
Kenya 2018 Did not qualify 6 3 2 1 6 3 details
Cameroon 2020 4 2 0 2 4 5 details
Algeria 2022 Qualified 4 3 1 0 6 1 details
Total – 0/6 – – – – – – 16 9 3 4 16 11 –

African Games

African Games record
Year Result GP W D L GS GA
Republic of the Congo 1965 -
Kenya 1987 -
Total 2/4

Indian Ocean Island Games

Indian Ocean Island Games record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Réunion 1979 Did not enter
Mauritius 1985 Fourth place 4th 2 1 0 1 2 3
Madagascar 1990 Champions 1st 4 3 1 0 12 1
Seychelles 1993 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 10 2
Réunion 1998 Runners-up 2nd 4 3 1 0 10 3
Mauritius 2003 Group stage 5th 2 0 1 1 2 4
Madagascar 2007 Runners-up 2nd 4 2 2 0 7 0
Seychelles 2011 Group stage 7th 2 0 1 1 2 3
Réunion 2015 Fourth place 4th 5 1 1 3 6 8
Mauritius 2019 Group stage 5th 2 0 2 0 2 2
Total 2 Titles 9/10 29 14 9 6 53 26

COSAFA Cup

COSAFA Cup record
Year Round Position 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
South Africa 2008 Fourth place 4th 6 2 2 2 6 7
Zimbabwe 2009 Did not enter
Zambia 2013
South Africa 2015 Third place 3rd 6 4 1 1 11 7
Namibia 2016 Group stage 11th 3 1 1 1 1 1
South Africa 2017 Group stage 9th 3 2 1 0 6 1
South Africa 2018 Fourth place 4th 6 2 2 2 4 4
South Africa 2019 Did not enter
Total Third place 11/19 34 14 8 12 38 34

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Madagascar para niños

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