Madagascar

Madagascar

The Madagascar national football team, nicknamed the Barea (a local zebu cattle breed), is governed by the Malagasy Football Federation and has competed under FIFA since 1964. Madagascar's greatest achievement came at the Africa Cup of Nations 2019 in Egypt, their debut AFCON appearance, where they sensationally reached the quarter-finals, defeating Nigeria and Guinea in the process. This remarkable run captivated the entire African continent and dramatically raised Madagascar's football profile. The team is built around players from the domestic league and European-based diaspora. Nicolas Dupuis guided Madagascar during their AFCON 2019 miracle. The team plays home matches at Stade Barea Mahamasina in Antananarivo. Following their 2019 breakthrough, Madagascar has continued building on that momentum, aiming to qualify for future AFCON editions and gradually develop their domestic football infrastructure.