Madagascar: Barea on the hunt for a new head coach

Madagascar fans can be thankful for the last African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Algeria, which gave them something to smile about. The Barea local side finished third on their debut at the tournament, sparking a real wave of goodwill across the Big Island. But since then, reality has caught up with the domestic game. The senior side, comprehensively beaten by Central African Republic on 23 and 27 March (0-3 in Antanannarivo, 0-2 in Douala, as the Fauves were unable to host in Bangui, editor's note), are already out of qualifying for the next AFCON. The 2019 quarter-finalists in Egypt had also missed the tournament staged in Cameroon in 2022. Nicolas Dupuis, who had returned to the helm after the departure of Eric Rabesandratana, who failed to take his team into the final round of qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar, has finally thrown in the towel.

On the same subject: Madagascar: Nicolas Dupuis leaves his post as head coach

Madagascar will therefore play two more games, against Ghana in June in Antananarivo, then in Angola in September, with the aim of picking up a few more points, as their current tally stands at just one. But with which coach? According to our information, a meeting of the federation's Executive Committee is on the agenda for Wednesday 3 May, and the succession to Dupuis is expected to be discussed. Several names are doing the rounds in the corridors of the governing body, which is known to be riven by numerous internal conflicts. Some of its members are pushing for a short-term local solution, particularly for the next two games. It would have the advantage of being cheap, a significant argument for a federation that is not flush with cash.

Fernandez, Dumas: rumour or credible options?

Others would rather recruit an experienced foreign coach, which would obviously cost more. In recent days, the name of Luis Fernandez (63) has been mentioned. The former France international has already managed two national teams, Israel (2010-2011) and Guinea (2015-2016), but he has not coached for almost seven years and is mainly busy with his media work on BeIN Sport. Franck Dumas (55), a free agent since leaving TP Mazembe (DR Congo) last October, is also being discussed. In Antananarivo, some also mention interest from Faneva Andriatsima (38), the former Barea captain, from the Portuguese Fabiano José Costa Flora, who was Rabesandratana's assistant before spells at Spartaks (Latvia) and Al-Sahel Club (Saudi Arabia) until last December, and even from Rabesandratana himself!

"There are other names, and I don't know when the decision to appoint a new coach will be taken, but there is clearly a desire to move forward on the issue," confirms a source close to the federation. 2023 promises to be eventful, as the election of the federation's new president is scheduled for next November. Plenty of time to appoint a new head coach…

Alexis Billebault