Madagascar pipped Niger 1-0 in the Third-place match of the ongoing Championship of African Nations (CHAN) to emerge the tournament’s 3rd best team.
Jean Yves Razafindrakoto’s goal was all Madagascar need to win their first-ever CHAN tournament medal as they defeated Niger in the third-place game on Friday.
This is the first time that the two nations have reached this stage of the CHAN. It turned out to be a tight game between two teams as they have been strong defensively since the start of the competition in Algeria.
Before this game, the Nigeriens who did not concede a goal until the semi-finals curiously lost 5-0 against the Algerian hosts.
It was therefore an opportunity for the West Africans to close an excellent tournament. But instead, it was the Malagasy who logically took over offensively.
Very smart, they took the game on their own from the start of the game. With high pressing, the area cornered the Niger defense.
This wore the Malagasy down as they spent most of the game eating up space and giving Nigerien goalkeeper Mahamadou Tandja Djibrilla Kassali Djibo a hard time.
The latter proved to be rather solid and impressive, frustrating the Malagasy attack throughout the evening.
It was almost at the end of the game that Madagascar was saved by Jean Yves Razafindrakoto in the 90th minute, sounding their victory. The Malagasy thus won the bronze medals for their first appearance at CHAN.
In all, Madagascar scored 9 goals in 4 games, conceding only 3 in the process. Opposite, the Mena of Niger returns without reward for their fifth participation.
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