Draw brings joy for Madagascar, frustration for Mauritania
While Madagascar coach Romuald Rakotondrabe found reasons to celebrate a hard-earned point, his Mauritanian counterpart Aritz López Garay left the pitch frustrated and disappointed after their opening Group B clash at the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 ended in a goalless draw.
Madagascar, who were reduced to 10 men before half-time following a red card to captain Dax, held firm against a Mauritania side that failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage in front of a packed stadium on Sunday night.
Pride in Adversity for Madagascar's Rakotondrabe
Coach Romuald Rakotondrabe praised the character and spirit of his players, calling the result a moral victory under the circumstances.
“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,” he said during the post-match press conference.
The sending off of captain Dax late in the first half shifted the momentum of the game and forced Madagascar to take a defensive approach. But Rakotondrabe insisted that the result was acceptable given the situation.
“The result may satisfy us a little. Getting one point is important, because it is difficult to play with 10 players against Mauritania, so I am a little satisfied with the result achieved.”
Acknowledging the void left by Dax’s absence, he added: “He is our captain and important to us, and it is difficult that he received a red card. It is unfortunate that this happened to us.”
However, the coach concluded his remarks with optimism for the future of his team in the competition.
“I am proud of what we did against Mauritania. We will now prepare for the second match and focus on giving our best.”
His words reflected a sense of unity and discipline within the squad, underlining his satisfaction with the team’s ability to stand firm and regroup even in the face of adversity.
Rakotondrabe also hinted at re-evaluating his tactical approach for the next match, particularly with his captain suspended.
Garay Regrets Missed Chances as Draw Feels Like Defeat
In contrast, Mauritania coach Aritz López Garay was left to rue his side’s inability to convert their dominance into goals, describing the goalless draw as a missed opportunity.
“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 said.
The frustration was evident as Garay reflected on the game that many expected Mauritania to win, especially after Madagascar were reduced to 10 men.
Looking ahead to their second group game against tournament co-hosts Tanzania—who won their opener against Burkina Faso—the coach called on his players to raise their game.
“There are still three games left, and we have to keep our heads up. We will continue to work hard after this game.”
He added: “Tanzania won the first match, and it might be good for us to play in front of a stadium full of Tanzanian fans. We have to improve our level. This is my job, and I will do it to the best of my ability. We are striving to play a good match, and we will prepare for the upcoming matches.”
Despite his disappointment, Garay acknowledged the importance of moving on quickly and refocusing his team’s energy on upcoming challenges.
He appeared determined to rally his players around the need for offensive precision and tactical discipline.
Contrasting Views, Shared Objective
The two coaches walked away from the same result with distinctly different emotions—one taking solace in a courageous team performance, the other lamenting a lack of execution in front of goal.
Yet, both Rakotondrabe and Garay are united by a common aim: to guide their teams out of Group B and deeper into the tournament.
With more group matches to play, including a crucial showdown with hosts Tanzania on the horizon for Mauritania, and Madagascar seeking to build on this performance, the path forward remains uncertain—but certainly not closed.
What both coaches made clear is that their squads must react positively—mentally and tactically—to ensure they remain in contention for a knockout spot.
As the first round of Group B fixtures concludes, the group remains wide open. Every point gained—or missed—could prove decisive in what is shaping up to be one of the most tightly contested groups of the TotalEnergies CHAN 2024.