Romuald Rakotondrabe, the head coach of the Madagascar national team, expressed his surprise at how his team defeated Sudan to reach the final of the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The match took place at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium on Tuesday, where Madagascar won 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Toky Rakotondraibe in the 116th minute. This victory secured Madagascar’s place in its first CHAN final.
Rakotondrabe expressed that he struggled to find words to convey his feelings after the match. He highlighted the amazing achievement of the team despite losing a player to injury early and another to a red card, leaving them with only ten players for much of the game. He praised his players, stating, “They are really good people, and that contributed to our win.”
After the red card, Rakotondrabe adjusted the team’s strategy, saying, “It was challenging after our player was sent off, so we brought in another player to help maintain possession.”
When asked about their chances against Morocco in the final, he said, “I can’t say if we can win the title. Beating Sudan does not guarantee victory. Although we lost two players before the match, we have others who can take their place.” He added that they hoped some players could make a difference in the final. He remarked, “We said before the semifinal that we must return to Nairobi, and now we will.”
While Sudan will play in the third-place match on Friday in Dar es Salaam, Madagascar will head back to Nairobi for the final at Moi Sports Centre Kasarani on Saturday.
