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Tag: Madagascar

  • Madagascar’s president warns over attempted coup

    Madagascar’s president warns over attempted coup

    • Army unit backs anti-govt protests

    Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina’s office said yesterday an attempt to seize state power illegally was underway, a day after troops from an army unit sided with anti-government protesters.

    “There is an attempt to seize power at this time in the territory of the republic, in complete violation of the constitution and democratic principles,” a presidential statement said yesterday.

    In a video statement on Saturday, troops from the Army Personnel Administration Center (CAPSAT), a military unit instrumental in Rajoelina’s rise to power through a 2009 coup, declared its support for the anti-government protests that began last month.

    Read Also: Tinubu arrives Rome for Aqaba Process meeting on West Africa security

    “This country is facing a collapse of basic services, security forces must not follow blindly unlawful orders,” they said.

    Today, CAPSAT officers, in a video message, said that they will take control of the armed forces, saying: “From now on, all orders of the Malagasy army – whether land, air or the navy – will originate from CAPSAT headquarters.”

  • Madagascar face unbeaten Sudan in CHAN semi-final

    Madagascar face unbeaten Sudan in CHAN semi-final

    Madagascar and Sudan will both be aiming for a first appearance in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) final when they face one another in their semi-final at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, today.

    Both teams narrowly won their quarterfinal match-ups on penalties. Madagascar knocked out hosts Kenya 4-3 in their shootout following a 1-1 draw, while Sudan upset Algeria 4-2 in their penalty shootout thanks to the heroic efforts of Mohamed Abooja, who saved two penalties to send his side through to the semi-finals. After extra-time, Sudan and Algeria were also locked at 1-1.

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    The Barea emerged from group B after finishing second, having lost to hosts and group winners Tanzania. They registered wins against the Central African Republic and Burkina Faso and a goalless draw against Mauritania in group play.

    The Falcons of Jediane are undefeated at this year’s tournament, having drawn with the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) and Senegal, and schooling Nigeria 4-0 in group D. They finished top of the group, above the defending champions on goal difference.

    In three previous appearances at the tournament, Sudan have collected two bronze medals in 2011 and 2018 respectively but failed to make it out of the group stage in 2022.

    This year’s CHAN competition is Madagascar’s second appearance at the tournament, with the island nation claiming third place in 2022.

    With both sides having secured podium finishes in the past, they will both be looking to advance to the final for the first time and claim continental glory.

  • Presidential support: Like Croatia like Madagascar

     

    You can’t believe it but it is true that in a matter of days, one full year would have rolled pass since the last World Cup in Russia.

    Recall that it was on the 15th July last year that France battled Croatia in a no dull moment encounter to lift the World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium. How time flies indeed!

    Some memories of that World Cup may have faded but some will definitely take longer time to fade because of the impression they left on the mind.

    One of such memories was the action of Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović who stole the mind of many when she made her way into the dressing room of Croatian national team to personally identify with each player prior to the final and even ignored the heavy down pour to congratulate the team after they fought to the finish but lost 4-2 to France.

    She celebrated their every move and even her celebration tickled the fancy of many.

    A similar occasion was re-enacted on Sunday this time not by President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and not at the World Cup but President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina at the ongoing Nations cup in Egypt.

    A very elated President Andry Rajoelina rejoiced so much after the Barea, debutants who were not given any chance of going beyond the group stage shocked two time Nations cup champions DR Congo to book a place in the Quarterfinals.

    They had earlier in the group stage equally shocked three time winners Nigeria to zoom into the round of 16.

    This game is about emotion, it is about passion and it is about pain and it is about joy and jubilation and so when the Madagascan President jumped up in jubilation as his boys booked a place in the quarterfinals at the expense of DR Congo, that was to be expected.

    And who says the team that have now been dubbed giant killers cannot again spring a surprise when they face either Tunisia or Ghana on Thursday?

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • UPDATED: Madagascar continues fairytale, qualify for Quarter-Finals

    Madagascar on Sunday in Alexandria kept up their fairytale run at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

    They advanced to the quarter-finals with a 4-2 penalty kicks shootout win over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    This was after a 2-2 extra-time stalemate in their last 16 tie.

    The tournament debutants had upset Nigeria to finish top of their group.

    Read Also: UPDATED: AFCON 2019: South Africa sends Egypt packing

    They added another major scalp by edging the two-time champions to set up a meeting with either Tunisia or Ghana in the last eight.

    Ibrahim Amada had opened the scoring for Madagascar in the ninth minute but Cedric Bakambu equalised in the 21st minute.

    Madagascar restored their lead in the 77th minute throu

    NAN

  • Eagles savor clement weather intensify training for Madagascar

     

    Super Eagles training in Alexandria Friday was not only impressive but was made tick by clement weather, fillers from the camp revealed.

    The Gernot Rohr tutored side, already have a place in the round of 16 and lead the group with six points.

    A win against Madagascar who defeated fellow debutants Burundi on Thursday will see the Nigerians finish with nine points winning all three group matches.

    The team though accused of being goal stingy in some quarters however received accolades not only for winning the first two matches but claiming the maximum points available even with loan goal victory in both clashes against Burundi and Guinea respectively.

    Marco Ilaimaharitra who was the main man was Madagascar claimed three points against Burundi will be hoping to have an opportunity again to show what he can do.

    An elated Madagascar head coach Nicolas Dupuis is receiving standing ovation in

    Antananarivo and has urged his team to double effort Eagles, while admitting that the encounter will not be cheap.

    Madagascar fans who celebrated hard over the victory against Burundi have been looking at their chances of moving to the next stage.

    Some are praying for Guinea and Burundi to play out a draw. They reason that it will take Guinea a victory over Burundi with at least two goals to overtake Madagascar, while the Barea need only to hold Eagles to a draw to forge ahead.

  • Rohr may rest key players against In-laws Madagascar

    With six points and two goals in the kitty in two matches Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr may be tempted to rest key players in the last group match against Barea of Madagascar on Sunday.

    One person who will be watching to see how the match pans out is Rohr’s wife who is from Madagascar. Rohr’s wife who is said to be in the hospitality industry follows the progress of the German sweat merchant in the course of his job but seldom follows him to tournaments.

    The Eagles got what some called a soft draw after the three time Nations cup winners after they were pitched against two debutants Burundi and Madagascar.  Eagles opening match against Burundi was however not a tea party as the Burundians shunned their underdog status to give Eagles a run for their strength and experience.

    Read Also: Breaking: AFCON 2019: Nigeria beat Guinea, qualify for Round of 16

    It took a strike by late substitute Odion Ighalo to rescue the Eagles from what would have ended either in a barren draw of even a surprise defeat.

    Rohr led Eagles to a disappointing group stage ouster at the last world cup in Russia with some soccer fans in the country insisting that he has to aim at winning the Nations cup to make up for the poor run in Russia.

    The former Niger and Burkina Faso coach has however insisted that the Eagles are not the favorites to clinch the title tipping hosts Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal instead as hot favorites.

    Madagascar who held Guinea to a 2-2 draw in their opening match will Thursday face Burundi in what has been dubbed battle of debutants at the Alexandria Stadium.

  • Egypt 2019: Will Rohr treat in-laws Madagascar with kid gloves?

     

    Super Eagles will on the 30th June at the Alexandria Stadium take on the Barea of Madagascar in the last group match of the Nations cup in Egypt.

    The Eagles were drawn against debutants Burundi and Madagascar as well as Guinea in Group B.

    While the Eagles flag off their campaign on the 22nd of June against Burundi, they will face Guinea in the second match on the 26th before rounding off the group hostilities with Madagascar.

    Will Coach Gernot Rohr launch full attack on Madagascar or will he  choose to be soft on them not only because they are debutants but also because they are his in-laws?.

    The German tactician, who has been handling the Eagles since 2016 following the exit of former international Sunday Oliseh, is married to a Madagascan who reportedly is in the hospitality industry but avoids publicity.

    The Rohrs, own a hotel in the French Island with estimated population 25million people. Rohr’s wife does not fancy the idea of travelling with his husband on tournaments but is said to monitor his progress while praying for his success all the same.

  • [UPDATED] AFCON 2019: Nigeria draw Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn in Group B with Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

    The Super Eagles will open its campaign on 22nd June against Burundi at the Alexandria Stadium, Egypt. They will next face Guinea on 26th June, before rounding off the group matches against Madagascar on 30th June.

    The draw ceremony for the Nations Cup, which took place behind the famous Giza Pyramids in Cairo Egypt, the Pharaohs of Egypt draw DR Congo, Uganda and Zimbabwe in Group A, and the Teranga Lions of Senegal take Algeria, Kenya and Tanzania in Group C.

    Read Also: AFCON 2019: Nigeria not favourites — Rohr

    Group D is widely adjudged as the group of death as Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa and Namibia make up the numbers for the group. Group E holds Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania and Angola and defending champions Cameroon drew Ghana, Benin Republic and Guinea Bissau in Group F.

    This is the first time the Africa Cup of Nations will have twenty-four nations, as against the sixteen it used to have, and this is also the first time the competition will take place in the month of June.

    Egypt will play against Zimbabwe to open the competition on 21st June 2019.

  • NLC to African leaders: be alive to challenges of climate change

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked governments in Africa and beyond to be alive to the challenge posed by Climate Change especially with regards to making provisions for climatic early warning systems and robust architecture of rescue initiatives cum resources to deal with disasters of this nature.

    In a statement by Acting President, Comrade Najeem Yasin, the Congress regretted the cyclone that ravaged four African countries of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Madagascar, leaving several people dead

    The statement reads: “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expresses its deeply felt grief and commiseration with the workers and people of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Madagascar affected by the horrendous landfall of Cyclone Idai.

    “It is really tragic that this climatic and environmental disaster has left in its wake death in hundreds, thousands of displaced persons and large scale destruction and disruptions of public infrastructure, social facilities, property and livelihood. In Beira, the second largest city in Mozambique, Cyclone Idai left its most devastating footprints as it is estimated that nearly 90% of the city has been destroyed.

    “Similar waves of destruction impacted other cities and communities in different parts of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Madagascar where Cyclone Idai bared its monstrous fangs.

    READ ALSO: Don’t throw Nigeria into crisis, NLC tells politicians

    “We wish to commend the resilience of those in the affected communities.

    “We salute the efforts of the governments of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Madagascar in scrambling rescue resources it could avail as a first line response to the victims.

    “We also appreciate the intervention of multilateral institutions and aid organizations both local and international for coming to the rescue of the people of Southern Africa hit by this calamitous disaster.

    “As devastating and painful as Cyclone Idai is, it affords all of us a moment of quiet reflection. Climate Change is real! We can only mitigate and adapt to its realities.

    “The NLC calls on all governments in Africa and beyond to be alive to the challenge posed by Climate Change especially with regards to making provisions for climatic early warning systems and robust architecture of rescue initiatives cum resources to deal with disasters of this nature.

    “We pray for the repose of the souls of those that died. We ask that God will grant fortitude to bereaved families, give strength to those whose loved ones are still missing or injured and imbue resilience in those experiencing great discomfort as occasioned by this natural disaster.”

  • 2019 Davis Cup: Nigeria battles Tunisia, six others for promotion

    Nigeria will be making another attempt at gaining promotion to the elite division of the Davis Cup as the West African side will battle host – Kenya, Tunisia, Benin Republic, Namibia, Algeria, Mozambique and Madagascar.

    The Africa Group III event will also take place in Nairobi, Kenya from September 11 to 14 on the clay courts of the Nairobi Club.

    After finishing fifth at the 2018 edition, Nigeria will be on the umpteenth time be heading out of the country for a place in the top division. Nigeria’s best outing in the Davis Cup was in 1988 and 1989 editions when the team reached the Group I semifinals.

    According to International Tennis Federation (ITTF), Kenya has been named as the host of the Africa Group III event after the East African nation edged out Tunisia to secure hosting right for the tournament in September.

    Being the second time in a row that Kenya will be hosting the tournament having hosted the 2018 edition in which Kenya, Tunisia and Namibia secured promotion to the Africa Group II. But the trio were denied the participation in the elite cadre after a new sponsor came on board and opted to use a new ranking system which knocked the three promoted countries back to Africa Group III.

    The new ranking system came to effect after a new sponsor, Kosmos Group, an investment firm owned by FC Barcelona and Spain defender, Gerard Pique, signed a deal valued at $3b covering 25 years.

    For Africa Group IV, Brazzaville will play host the qualifiers from June 26 to 29, with the host – Congo Brazzaville facing Cameroun, Rwanda, Botswana, Ghana, Uganda, and Cote D’Ivoire on the hard courts of the Complexe Sportif Concorde de Kintele