Madagascar’s football team earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Mauritania in their opening Group B match at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), despite playing most of the game with 10 men.
The match turned when Madagascar’s captain Dax received a red card in the 39th minute, forcing his team to defend for over 50 minutes with fewer players.
Madagascar’s coach Romuald Rakotondrabe praised his team’s resilience, calling the draw a moral victory.
“It was a difficult match for us. Playing with 10 men from the 39th minute was not easy. I congratulate the players on their performance,” Rakotondrabe said after the game. He added,
“The result may satisfy us a little. Getting one point is important, because it is difficult to play with 10 players against Mauritania “The coach expressed disappointment about losing his captain but remained optimistic about their next match.
Meanwhile, Mauritania’s coach Aritz López Garay was frustrated his team couldn’t capitalize on their advantage.
“I have a feeling we lost the match. We played against a team with 10 men and we didn’t win. Our players missed several clear scoring opportunities,” he admitted.
With tournament hosts Tanzania next on their schedule after their opening win, Garay urged his team to improve. “There are still three games left… We have to improve our level. This is my job, and I will do it to the best of my ability.”
The result leaves both teams with work to do in the tournament, with Madagascar showing defensive strength and Mauritania needing better finishing in their upcoming matches.
