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Madagascar national football team

Men's association football team


Men's association football team

FieldValue
NameMadagascar
Badge_size180px
NicknameBarea
AssociationFédération Malagasy de Football (FMF)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationCOSAFA
(Southern Africa)
CoachCorentin Martins
CaptainRayan Raveloson
Most capsPaulin Voavy (67)
Top scorerPaulin Voavy (15)
Home StadiumMahamasina Stadium
Rabemananjara Stadium
FIFA TrigrammeMAD
FIFA Rank
FIFA max74
FIFA max dateDecember 1992
FIFA min190
FIFA min dateMarch 2014
Elo Rank
Elo max64
Elo max dateDecember 1964
Elo min167
Elo min dateApril 2007
pattern_b1_mad24h
pattern_so1_mad24h
leftarm10C970C
body10C970C
rightarm10C970C
shorts1ffffff
socks1FF0000
pattern_b2_mad24a
pattern_so2_mad24a
leftarm2ff0000
body2ff0000
rightarm2ff0000
shorts2ff0000
socks2ffffff
First gameFRA Madagascar 1–2
(Madagascar; Date Unknown 1947)
Largest win8–1
(Antananarivo, Madagascar; 19 April 1960)
Largest loss
Regional nameAfrica Cup of Nations
Regional cup apps1
Regional cup first2019
Regional cup bestQuarter-finals (2019)
2ndRegional nameAfrican Nations Championship
2ndRegional cup apps2
2ndRegional cup first2022
2ndRegional cup bestRunners-up (2024)
3rdRegional nameCOSAFA Cup
3rdRegional cup apps12
3rdRegional cup first2002
3rdRegional cup bestThird place (2015)
Note

the men's team

| Sub-confederation = COSAFA (Southern Africa) Rabemananjara Stadium (Madagascar; Date Unknown 1947) (Antananarivo, Madagascar; 19 April 1960) 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.

2025

  • Gambor
  • Raveloson
  • Randrianantenaina
  • Rafanomezantsoa
  • Kudus
  • Banza
  • Wissa
  • Raheriniaina

Coaching staff

Technical directorMAD Éric Rabésandratana

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)
  • SUI 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 (2022–2023)
  • Madagascar Romuald Rakotondrabe (2023-present)

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the friendly against Equatorial Guinea on 17 November 2025.

Caps and goals updated after the match against Chad on 8 September 2025.

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Madagascar in the last 12 months and are still eligible to represent.

  • 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

!W !D* !L !GF !GA !Pld !W !D !L !GF !GA !GR |-

1930 to 1958
!colspan=9
!colspan=8
-
Chile 1962
-
1966 and 1970
-
West Germany 1974
-
!colspan=9
!colspan=8
-
Argentina 1978
-
Spain 1982
2
0
1
1
3
4
details
-
Mexico 1986
2
1
0
1
1
1
details
-
Italy 1990
-
United States 1994
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
10
6
1
3
17
12
details
-
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030
details
-
Saudi Arabia 2034
details
-
!Total
!52
}

Africa Cup of Nations

Main article: Madagascar at the Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations recordQualification recordYearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGAPldWD*LGFGAGRTotalQuarter-finals1/355221779926254894163
Sudan 1957Part of Part of
United Arab Republic 1959
Ethiopia 1962Not affiliated to CAFNot affiliated to CAF
Ghana 1963
Tunisia 1965Did not enterDid not enter
Ethiopia 1968
Sudan 1970
Cameroon 1972Did not qualify210135details
Egypt 1974210134details
Ethiopia 1976WithdrewWithdrew
Ghana 1978Did not enterDid not enter
Nigeria 1980Did not qualify210136details
Libya 1982421147details
Ivory Coast 1984411234details
Egypt 1986200226details
Morocco 1988210123details
Algeria 1990WithdrewWithdrew
Senegal 1992Did not qualify522132details
Tunisia 1994Did not enterDid not enter
South Africa 1996Withdrew during qualifiersWithdrew during qualifiers
Burkina Faso 1998Banned for withdrawal in 1996Banned for withdrawal in 1996
Ghana Nigeria 2000Did not qualify8233912details
Mali 2002822478details
Tunisia 2004420228details
Egypt 2006201134details
Ghana 20084004014details
Angola 20108332129details
Gabon 20126015414details
South Africa 2013200217details
Equatorial Guinea 2015210122details
Gabon 20176033512details
Egypt 2019Quarter-finals6th52217785121210details
Cameroon 2021Did not qualify622299details
Ivory Coast 2023603319details
Morocco 2025602448details
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2027To be determinedTo be determined
2029

African Nations Championship

African Nations Championship recordQualification recordYearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGAPldWD*LGFGAGRTotalRunners-up2/71270318101810351812
Ivory Coast 2009Did not enterDid not enter
Sudan 2011Did not qualify210102Details
South Africa 2014Did not enterDid not enter
RWA 2016
Kenya 2018Did not qualify632163Details
Cameroon 2020420245Details
Algeria 2022Third place3rd540193431061Details
TAN KEN UGA 2024Runners-up2nd732297210121Details

African Games

African Games recordQualification recordYearResultPldWDLGFGAPldWDLGFGAGRTotal2/46105418420296
Congo 19658th3003013210163details
Nigeria 1973WithdrewWithdrew
Algeria 1978
Kenya 19876th310245210133details
Egypt 1991 to Congo 2015U-23 TournamentU-23 Tournament
Morocco 2019 – presentU-20 TournamentU-20 Tournament

Indian Ocean Island Games

Indian Ocean Island Games recordYearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGATotal3 Titles10/1133171066029
Réunion 1979Did not enter
Mauritius 1985Fourth place4th210123
Madagascar 1990Champions1st4310121
Seychelles 1993Champions1st4400102
Réunion 1998Runners-up2nd4310103
Mauritius 2003Group stage5th201124
Madagascar 2007Runners-up2nd422070
Seychelles 2011Group stage7th201123
Réunion 2015Fourth place4th511368
Mauritius 2019Group stage5th202022
Madagascar 2023Champions1st431073

COSAFA Cup

COSAFA Cup recordYearRoundResultPldWDLGFGATotalThird place13/2440159164541
2000Excluded
2001
2002Quarter-finals5th211032
2003Quarter-finals7th210123
2004Round 111th100102
2005Round 110th100102
2006Round 113th200204
2007Round 18th210151
South Africa 2008Fourth place4th622267
Zimbabwe 2009Did not enter
Zambia 2013
South Africa 2015Third place3rd6411117
Namibia 2016Group stage11th311111
South Africa 2017Group stage9th321061
South Africa 2018Fourth place4th622244
South Africa 2019Did not enter
South Africa 2021Did not enter
South Africa 2022Quarter-finals5th200241
South Africa 2023Did not enter
South Africa 2024Did not enter
South Africa 2025Fourth place4th411236

Honours

Continental

  • African Nations Championship
    • Runners-up (1): 2024
    • 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
  • Indian Ocean Games Triangulaire
    • Champions (3): 1955, 1958, 1963
    • Runners-up (7): 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956
    • Third place (3): 1950, 1954, 1957

Summary

CompetitionTotalTotal0112
CAF African Nations Championship0112

References

References

  1. Clarel Faniry Rasoanaivo. (10 July 2019). "Madagascans elated by AFCON success, eye semi-finals".
  2. Courtney, Barrie. "Madagascar – List of International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  3. (16 October 2018). "Africa Cup of Nations: Egypt, Tunisia, Senegal, Madagascar qualify for the finals".
  4. (16 October 2018). "Madagascar reaches first African Cup, Egypt also qualifies". The Washington Post}}{{dead link.
  5. "CAFOnline.com".
  6. "Business & Financial News, U.S & International Breaking News | Reuters".
  7. "Madagascar earn draw in Afcon debut". BBC Sport.
  8. "Afcon 2019: Burundi won't lose hope after Madagascar defeat, says coach Olivier Niyungeko | Goal.com".
  9. "Madagascar Stun Nigeria, 2-0, As Debutantes Win AFCON Group B".
  10. (1 July 2019). "Africa Cup of Nations 2019: The surprise package from Madagascar". Deutsche Welle.
  11. (7 July 2019). "Africa Cup of Nations 2019: Madagascar stun DR Congo, Algeria ease through". Deutsche Welle.
  12. Sharuko, Robson. (10 July 2019). "Africa: Madagascar's French Armada Reminds Warriors of the British Brigade We Missed".
  13. (11 July 2019). "Madagascar 0-3 Tunisia: As it happened".
  14. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180803194558/https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=95836/index.html FIFA.com]
  15. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180803194622/https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=184896/index.html FIFA.com]
  16. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180803194819/https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=63673/index.html FIFA.com]
  17. "Madagascar".
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