By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (August 13^th 2025)

Group C Matchday 4

Madagascar is capable of pulling a surprise, so much so it is not surprising when they excel. Tanzania had already secured their qualification for the knockout phase – it was the Taifa Stars turn not to play. The Barrea knew that they had to beat the CHAN Finals débutants the Central African Republic and they did 2-0.

While the CAR had the best of the early exchanges, they failed to trouble Toldo. The Barrea, however, left it late to break the deadlock. Toky Niaina Rakotondraibe scored the winner after 84 minutes after a blocked shot by Mamisoa Rakotoson deflected into his path on the right of the area. His right footed shot found the opposite corner of the goal – it turned out to be the winner.

Four minutes into added time at the end of the match, Nomena Lalaina Rafanomezantsoa doubled their lead, again after poor defending deflected Rakotondraibe’s pull back into his path.

Naïve defending cost the CAR dear and eliminated them from the CHAN Finals in the group stage again. Madagascar with four points had to wait until Mauritania had played Burkina Faso in the next match today to know what they would have to do in their final match to advance to the quarter-finals.

Mauritania beat ten-man Burkina Faso 1-0 thanks to Alasane Diop’s penalty deep into added time at the end of the first half – after 9 minutes of added time – which had been awarded for Kalifa Nikièma’s foul on El Mami Tetah.

The Stallions’ Abdoulaye Touré had been sent off after 41 minutes after a VAR review convinced the referee to increase the punishment for an off the ball foul on Moulaye Al Khalil from a yellow card to red.

Abderahmane Sarr made some fine saves in both halves to deny the Burkinabé. Mauritania held on to keep their hopes of qualifying for the knockout phase alive. Burkina Faso became the latest side to be eliminated.