Madagascar stayed behind in South Africa to prepare for the return match against Eswatini in the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) final qualifying round.
The Barea beat Eswatini 2-0 at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday with the reverse fixture scheduled for this Sunday to determine the CHAN finalist between the two teams. John Christiano Razafimanana and Fenohasina Gilles Razafimaro scored for the Islanders to return home with one leg in the final.
After the match in Pretoria, the men for coach Romuald Rakotondrabe remained behind to continue with the training ahead of the reverse game at Côte d'Or National Sports Complex in Mauritius. Both teams are playing away from home due to lack of certified venues for such high-profile games.
After the first-leg win, Rakotondrabe said according to Madagascar Tribune: "It's always good and motivating to win. We scored two goals and didn't concede anything. That's the most important thing. 30 percent of the regular members played their first international match...They performed well. They applied the instructions and the work done in training well."
The Madagascar squad flew straight from South Africa to Mauritius in two batches with the first group leaving on December 25 followed by the second group a day later.
Meanwhile, Eswatini coach Zdravko Logarušić remains optimistic about overturning the tables in the second leg and securing qualification to the CHAN finals for the first time.
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