Rédaction Africa Links 24 with lexpress
Published on 2024-03-22 02:45:00
The match between Madagascar and Burundi kicks off this afternoon at 1 pm at the Barea Mahamasina Stadium. It’s a rematch of the group stage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
It’s a historic first for Madagascar to host an international friendly tournament during the FIFA window. Four African nations – Madagascar, Rwanda, Burundi, and Botswana – are participating. The Barea will play against the Burundian Hirondelles today at 1 pm at the Barea Stadium. Coach Romuald Rakotondrabe’s team will then face the Rwandan Amavubi on Monday at 4 pm. “We aim for a double victory. It will mentally prepare us for the matches against the Comoros and Mali in June. A win will motivate us a lot,” emphasized the coach during the pre-match press conference yesterday at the Ibis Hotel in Ankorondrano.
In camp since the beginning of the week, “the atmosphere and cohesion between the old and new players are good.” Captain Rayan Raveloson noted, “There is a good bond between the players. As veterans, we welcome the newcomers in the best way possible. Everything is going well, and we hope it continues like this.”
The group welcomed the newcomers to the hotel with a small party. “Certainly, we feel the absence of the former leaders. But the coaching staff is here to value all the players in the group. And I have confidence in them. We encourage them because it’s an opportunity for them to demonstrate their ability and show they belong in the team,” Coach Rôrô explained.
The coach reassured that all departments are well-trained. Many players, especially in defense, are versatile and can adapt to any situation. The coach does not want to neglect these matches, even if they are friendly. “We consider each match as a final. A national team competes to win… because our results at the end of this tournament reflect our mindset for the matches against Comoros and Mali in June,” reiterated the Barea coach. This will be an opportunity for the group to strengthen cohesion and hopefully, in the next three months of preparation, welcome back the experienced players and identify a new generation.
On their part, Burundi says they are ready and have learned lessons from their defeat in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. “Madagascar is a football nation on the rise and has integrated young, experienced players… very dynamic and physical. We are very happy to be invited,” mentioned Burundi coach Etienne Ndayiragije. Two of the twenty-five members of their team participated in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. “This time, our team consists of young players… We lost in 2019, but we played a good game. Now it’s a different generation. Tomorrow, you will see a good team, young players giving their all,” warned captain Christophe Nduwarugira.
Tickets for the match can be found at three points of sale, including Barea Stadium Portail P3, Smart in Tanjombato, and Cart’In headquarters in Ankorondrano. The prices range from 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 orange chair.
Serge Rasanda
Read the original article(French) on lexpress.mg
