Madagascar eye Group I top spot with Ghana win

03/23/2025 09:00 AM

Madagascar will be targeting another victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers when they battle it out with Ghana on Monday.

Kick-off is at 9:00 pm CAT.

The Group I encounter is scheduled to be played at Madagascar’s temporary home ground, Grand Stade Al-Hoceima, in a city in the north of Morocco, Al Hoceima.

Barea are oozing with confidence at the moment, having bounced back to winning ways when they secured a 4-1 win over Central African Republic in a World Cup qualifier on 19 March, and before that, they had lost to Eswatini.

Therefore, Madagascar are placed second in the Group I standings – two points behind leaders, Ghana, and a victory over the Black Stars would see the Island nation climb to the top of the table with four matches left.

“We’re going to prepare for this match [against Ghana] as best as possible and try to play the best match possible,” Madagascar head coach Corentin Martins said on The Express Madagascar.

“We will be facing a very beautiful team from Ghana, but we will do with our players and our strength.”

One of Madagascar’s key midfielder Marco Ilaimaharitra of KV Kortrijk is an injury doubt after being substituted in the 30th minute during the match against the Central Africa Republic.

Meanwhile, Ghana also breathed a sigh of relief after snapping an eight-match winless run across all competitions when they hammered Chad 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier on 21 March and prior to that, they had recorded four defeats, and four draws.

The Black Stars are placed at the top of the Group I standings and a win over Madagascar would see the West African giants consolidate their place at the summit, as they take a step towards qualifying for the World Cup for the fifth time.

"First of all, I am happy that we won [against Chad], also that we scored a lot of goals," Ghana coach Otto Addo said in a post-match conference.

"But to be honest, we have to concentrate on Monday. It will be a different game. It will be much, much difficult, and we are already thinking ahead of that game."

Ghana will be without the injured Elisha Owusu of AJ Auxerre and the midfielder has since been replaced by Cercle Brugge starlet Lawrence Agyekum.

Madagascar and Ghana have met six times across all competitions.

The Black Stars have the edge in this rivalry, having won three matches compared to Barea’s two wins and one game was drawn.

Their last meeting ended in a 1-0 win in favour of Ghana in the 2026 World Cup qualifier played in Kumasi in November 2023.