Madagascar get first win, Mauritania keep hopes alive as CAR is eleiminated
Madagascar, led by the ever-strategic Romuald Rakotondrabe, claimed a crucial 2-0 victory over the Central African Republic (CAR), keeping their quarter-final hopes alive at the African Nations Championship. CHAN Pamoja 2024.
It was Madagascar’s first win at the tournament, and it was largely due to Rakotondrabe’s tweeks and changes during the game.
“At the beginning of the match, we started with a 3-5-2 tactical plan, and tried to play on the wings, but we decided to change our style and move to a 4-4-2 plan in the second half. Honestly, we tried to play quickly throughout the match. In the midfield, I noticed that we were weak, and if we improve things at the level of the field, we will be able to succeed and achieve victory. The first tactical method did not work for us, so we changed it, and after that we put four players in the midfield,” the Madagascar coach said after the match.
VAR officials had an eventful first half as Mauritania beat Burkina Faso 1-0 to move onto seven points. Abdoulaye Touré was handed his eviction orders for violent conduct. Deep into injury time, VAR awarded a penalty to Mauritania after Kalifa Nikièma fouled El Mami Tetah.
The second half was less active for South African referee, Jelly Chavane. Mauritania, however, had to do some frantic defending at the end to keep out Burkina Faso.
