The first-round match of the U23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers between the Barea of Madagascar and the Coelacanthes of Comoros is scheduled for September 28.
Madagascar’s participation remains uncertain. With only one month left before the first match, no competitions or player scouting have taken place. Following the draw held Tuesday evening in Cairo, Egypt, Madagascar will face Comoros in the first round of the U23 AFCON qualifiers. This continental tournament serves as a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
According to the first-round schedule, the Coelacanthes will host the first leg, while the Barea will host the return leg on October 6, likely on neutral ground. If victorious, Madagascar will face South Africa in the second round, with matches scheduled for November 9 and November 17.
There has been no apparent action from the Malagasy Football Federation in recent months to prepare for this international event. No national competition for this age group was included in the federation’s calendar. Questions remain on how the federation intends to scout, select, and train a U23 national team in less than a month.
Regarding the first-round matchups, the Coelacanthes previously ended a streak of Malagasy victories, as the Barea lost to the neighboring island’s selection during the 2024 AFCON qualifiers. Other regional matchups include Mauritius against Zimbabwe and Djibouti against South Sudan.
During the previous qualification cycle for the 2023 AFCON and 2024 Olympics, the Federation delegated preparation to the Union of International Footballers and Malagasy Sports Executives (UFICASM) in collaboration with the association Mobilisation Associative pour le développement actif du sport (MADAS). Despite a signed agreement, the project failed to secure qualification, and the initiative ended prematurely amid reports of debt.
It remains to be seen how the Federation will manage to form a competitive squad in just a few weeks to defend the national colors in this continental journey toward the Los Angeles Games. The matter of Madagascar’s participation will be on the agenda for the Federation’s executive committee meeting this Thursday.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-27 05:53:33 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/football-eliminatoires-can-u23.html