“We want to make history”: Raheriniaina inspires Madagascar’s 2026 World Cup chase

At just 19, El Hadary Raheriniaina is already carrying the weight of a nation’s dream — a dream that burns brighter than ever as Madagascar chase an historic first-ever qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

For the young forward, the moment is personal and national all at once. “I was 17 when I started playing in World Cup qualifiers,” he recalled with a smile. “First of all, I’m so proud to be playing for the national team and when I play, I try to enjoy it and not put too much pressure on myself. In football, as Kylian Mbappé said, ‘Don’t talk about age!’”

Raheriniaina’s rise from Mahajanga to France’s competitive football system has been rapid, but his impact on the Barea has been even faster. Two years after his debut, he has become the face of Madagascar’s new footballing identity — young, fearless, and unafraid of the giants that once seemed unreachable.

A nation daring to dream

Madagascar are in uncharted territory. With two games left to play — against Comoros and Mali — they remain second in Group I, just behind Ghana, and still in with a real chance of qualification.

“When the national team plays, everyone stops what they’re doing and watches the games,” Raheriniaina said. “It gives us a lot of strength and energy. We’re playing for our country and we want to make history — and I believe we’ll do it. There’s a great atmosphere in the team and we always try to give everything in every match.”

Those words echo the spirit of a country that has fallen in love with its national team. Ever since their surprise run to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, Malagasy football has been on the rise, fuelled by the pride of a small island nation punching above its weight.

“In the previous match against Ghana, we dominated the second half. I came on and almost scored but unfortunately they grabbed a last-minute winner,” he said, recalling Inaki Williams’ 96th-minute goal that kept the Black Stars narrowly ahead.

Yet there’s no hint of fear or frustration — only resolve. “The goal is to win our matches against Comoros and Mali, and the rest depends on Ghana because I think that one win will be enough for them to qualify,” Raheriniaina said. “Their destiny is in their own hands. All we can do is try to win our matches and see what happens.”

Football runs in the family

Raheriniaina’s confidence is not born from arrogance but from deep roots. Football, he says, is part of his family’s DNA. His father, Clauvis, played professionally, and his cousin, Anicet Abel, captained the Barea and became the first Malagasy to feature in the UEFA Champions League with Ludogorets Razgrad.

“Football runs through our veins,” he said with a grin. “My father was also a professional footballer back in his day — but he was a substitute,” he added jokingly.

Now, the teenager is writing his own chapter. His debut for Madagascar — two assists in 20 minutes against Chad — marked the arrival of a generational talent who seems destined to carry his nation’s hopes for years to come.

From Mahajanga to Europe — a journey of adaptation

Raheriniaina’s maturity comes from experience well beyond his age. After a brief spell in the Seychelles, he made the leap to Europe with Paris FC, before earning a loan move to Valenciennes FC where he is now blossoming in France’s third tier.

“It was really difficult for me at the start,” he admitted. “Adapting to French culture was hard. Even the meals are different because in Madagascar we eat rice, and there’s rice in France, but it’s not the same, it’s never the same. The weather is different, too. I arrived here in winter and it was really hard to adapt. But I told myself to hang in there — since it was my goal to play in Europe.”

Now, with two goals in his first three matches for Valenciennes, Raheriniaina is proving that the lessons of adaptation — patience, persistence, and humility — are paying off.

A generation unafraid of limits

If Madagascar do qualify for the World Cup, it would be one of the great stories of African football — and Raheriniaina’s name would forever be etched in history.

“Madagascar have already competed once in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019, so playing in a World Cup would be incredible,” he said. “It would be a dream come true.”

He’s part of a fearless new generation — players raised on both African flair and European professionalism, determined to prove that Madagascar’s rise is no fluke.

As the Barea prepare for their final qualifiers, one thing is clear: whether or not they reach North America, their story already symbolizes something bigger — the arrival of a young nation unafraid to dream.“We want to make history”: