The battle for third place between the 2025 Madagascar champion, FTM, and the newly promoted CEA will have a special flavor, as six former Manjakaray club players are now in the ranks of the CEA.
It is a third-place spot to fight for, but above all, a revenge match for FT Manjakaray. Defeated in the semi-finals by Cosfa, the 2025 Madagascar champion will face the CEA of Andranomanalina this Sunday at 11:00 AM at the Makis Stadium in Andohatapenaka for the small final of the Madagascar Rugby Union Championship. The match promises to be intense between two teams that know each other very well.
The CEA, a newcomer to the Top 12 this season, has already pulled off a nice feat against the FTM. On March 15, during a rescheduled match of the 7th day, the Andranomanalina players won by a narrow margin, 29 to 28, after a particularly hard-fought encounter. A success that remains in everyone’s mind as they prepare to face the defending champion again.
Beyond the result of that first confrontation, this small final will be marked by reunions between several players. Six members from FT Manjakaray are currently playing under the colors of the CEA. They know their former club, its habits, and some of its strengths perfectly. This adds a special dimension to this duel and increases the tension before kick-off.
For Antonio Rabeherison, known as Coach Son, the coach of FT Manjakaray, the goal is clear: to end the season on a high note and return to the podium. After winning the national title last year, the club wants to avoid leaving empty-handed at the end of a season that did not meet all its ambitions.
For his part, Falisoa Narindra Rakotondrainibe’s CEA approaches this match with the ambition of confirming the success of its first season among the elite. “We will play for third place, which would be synonymous with success for our season, even if we were aiming for the national crown,” emphasizes Falisoa Narindra Rakotondrainibe, coach of the CEA of Andranomanalina.
A statement that summarizes the mindset of the promoted team. The initial ambition was to aim for the title, but a place on the podium would already be a remarkable performance for a team discovering the Top 12 this season.
The CEA will be able to rely on the confidence born from its success against the FTM in March. Winning by a single point against the 2025 Madagascar champion demonstrated that the promoted team was capable of competing with the benchmarks of Malagasy rugby.
FT Manjakaray, for its part, will be keen to show a different face. The stakes are double: to win the bronze medal and to take revenge on a team that beat them in a suspenseful scenario. Between experience, revenge, and ambition, all the ingredients are gathered for an electric small final.
For both the CEA and the FTM, there will be 80 minutes left to transform a contrasting season into a third-place finish synonymous with satisfaction.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-03 05:54:08 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/rugby-xv-troisieme-place-le-cea-et-le.html