Independence Day stakes and fight for survival: Madagascar, CAR set for high-pressure CHAN clash

DAR ES SALAAM: WHEN the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam roars to life, it won’t just be about football — it will be about pride, resilience, and history.

Madagascar and the Central African Republic (CAR) step onto the pitch knowing that their CHAN 2024 journey hangs in the balance, but for CAR, the date carries even deeper meaning: it’s Independence Day.

For Sébastien Ngato’s side, the 13th of August is not simply a fixture date — it’s a national celebration. The coach has made it clear that victory on such a symbolic day would be a gift to the people back home.

Madagascar, however, have their own ambitions, determined to bounce back from defeat and rekindle their dream in the tournament co-hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.

Head coach Romuald Rakotondrabe knows the sting of their previous loss to Tanzania still lingers, but he believes his players have rediscovered their fight.

“Naturally, we did not get the best result in our last match against Tanzania, but we managed to restore the fighting spirit needed to win the next match. The last game was tough, and the loss was difficult to digest. We tried to raise the players’ morale to play well against the Central African Republic.”

The group standings show both teams in near-identical positions, with Madagascar in fourth and CAR in fifth — adding to the tension.

“Yes, our morale urges us to give everything we have to achieve a positive result. It will not be easy — I know that — especially as we are almost in the same position in the table. I think we must win if we want to continue in the competition. This concerns both us and our opponents.”

Madagascar have scored just one goal in two matches — a statistic Rakotondrabe is keen to change.

“We have played two matches so far and scored just one goal. Winning requires efficiency in attack, which we have been missing. We created many chances but did not convert them. This is our weakness and we must score. Our morale is good, and we are working seriously to reach our goal. We have learned a lot from the last two games and will make some adjustments.”

One of those adjustments is the return of captain Dax from suspension, a presence the coach believes will be invaluable.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on Dax, but his presence will add a lot for us. We hope to give our all to honour Malagasy football.”

“The coach spoke to us about the technical gap. I will be on the pitch, raising my teammates’ morale and giving all my energy. I will do everything I can because that is what I must do as captain.”

He also reflected on the differences between this year’s squad and the 2022 team that reached the semi-finals:

“It’s different from 2022 — back then we had more experienced players, but now our squad does not have the same level of experience.

For CAR, Ngato sees the match as a national duty.

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“We will face Madagascar in what will be a final for us. This match coincides with our country’s Independence Day, and we want to represent our nation honourably. We will give everything to win on 13 August, which has great significance in our country. I spoke to the players about the importance of this day.”

The coach has made it clear there is no room for mistakes.