Madagascar: BAREA – FRIENDLY MATCHES – Rematch against Burundi, challenge against Rwanda

Madagascar will play against the two nations placed on paper, during the Fifa window in March. The Barea will first face the Burundians, then the Rwandans.

Four matches are scheduled at the Barea Mahamasina stadium during the Fifa window between March 18 and 26. The Malagasy Football Federation (FMF) released the schedule for international friendly matches on Thursday, in preparation for the national teams’ third and fourth round of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The next matches will take place in early June.

Madagascar will play two matches like the other three invited countries. The Big Island will first meet Burundi on Friday, March 22 at 1:00 PM at Mahamasina. This match will be followed by the one between Botswana and Rwanda at 4:00 PM. And during the second day scheduled for Monday, March 25, Madagascar will play against Rwanda at 4:00 PM, a match preceded by the meeting between Burundi and Botswana. The federations of the four participating countries defined this schedule.

“I don’t know Burundi very well. We beat them, 1-0, in the group stage of the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, with a free kick by Marco Ilaimaharitra. The match against Rwanda will be very interesting as this nation defeated South Africa 2-0 in the World Cup qualifiers in November,” said coach Romuald Rakotondrabe. On paper, Rwanda is the highest-ranked of the three, 133rd in the world.

The Rwandan Wasps played in the AFCON finals, eliminated in the first round in 2004. Burundi, on the other hand, occupies the 140th place in the world rankings. The Burundian Swallows participated in the 2019 AFCON in Egypt and were eliminated in the group stage. Botswana is currently at the 146th position in the FIFA rankings. The country participated in the AFCON in 2012.

“We will start the training camp for local players next week, with at least two sessions per week. The expatriates will arrive around March 17,” said coach Rôrô. The Barea stadium pitch is ready to host these friendly matches.

The stadium’s approval is not yet required during the Fifa window. It will be during the matches counting for the upcoming World Cup qualifying rounds in June that some of the recommendations from CAF and FIFA should be addressed, according to the FMF. The entrance fees for the friendly matches in March will see a considerable increase, 10,000 ariary for the stands, 30,000 ariary for the upper stands, 50,000 ariary for the central stands, and 100,000 ariary for the VIP seats.

Friday 22/03

13:00: Madagascar-Burundi

16:00: Botswana-Rwanda

Monday 25/03

13:00: Burundi-Botswana

16:00: Rwanda-Madagascar

Serge Rasanda