Voavy feeling at home with Madagascar at AFCON
Paulin Voavy has been one of the stars of the Madagascar team which has caused upsets at the Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Egypt 2019, qualifying to the round of 16 after topping a Group B that had Nigeria and Guinea.
Madagascar became the first debutants to proceed to the knockout phase of the competition since Cape Verde in 2013 and Voavy played a crucial role in the team’s campaign.
The striker has been feeling at home playing the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, more so because he plays his club football with Misr Lel Makkasa, a local top tier side based in Fayoum, a city based 100km south-west of the capital Cairo.
“I really feel great that I am playing my first ever Africa Cup of Nations with Madagascar here in Egypt. For me, this is like a perfect gift because Egypt is like my second home. Coming here to play the biggest competition in Africa for the first time with my country is a feeling I can’t trade for anything else,” Voavy told CAFOnline.com.
“It makes it quite easier for me because I know the country very well, the language, the stadiums and the people know me as well so they come out to give support which is quite encouraging. I just hope that we can make something special with the national team here. That would mean a lot to me,” added the speedy forward.
The much-travelled 31-year old says he is proud of the team and the achievement they have earned of getting into the knockout stages in their maiden attempt and has pinned this down to teamwork and self belief among his teammates.
“It is something historic for us and I am so happy for the victory. We worked hard and got a reward. Now we have to go a step at a time. That is how we started taking each game as it comes and we fight as a unit,” he stated.
Madagascar will be facing DR Congo in the round of 16 at the Alexandria Stadium on Sunday evening and Voavy hopes they can continue writing the beautiful story of Madagascar at the 2019 AFCON.
“I am not sure how far we will go but we are not thinking about that. We just think about the next game, plan to win, give our all then see the result at the end,” he stated.
Voavy’s football journey has taken him to France between 2006 and 2014 playing for Saint Pauloise, Nantes B, Boulogne, Evian TGFC and Canes before he moved to Algeria to play for CS Constantine for two seasons.
He has been at Makkasa for the last three seasons.