Ten-man, history-making Madagascar storm CHAN 2024 final

_________________
 2024 AFRICAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP 

 AUGUST 26 SEMIFINAL 1 RESULT 
🇲🇬 Madagascar 1-0 Sudan 🇸🇩 
_________________________________

Ten-man Madagscar reached their first-ever African Nations Championship (CHAN) final as they beat Sudan in the semi-finals of the 2024 Pamoja edition at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Tanzania's port city of Dar es Salaam on Tuesday (August 26).

With these two former bronze-medallists having advanced to the semi-finals via the spotkicks, it looked ever likely they would again have to be separated by a penalty shootout as an exhausting two hours of football approached a goalless conclusion.

But with four minutes of extra time left, Toky Niania Rakotondraibe got on the end of a rare Barea attack to slot past Sudanese keeper Mohamed Al-Nour Adam and send the ten men of Madagascar into the final.

Although the Sudanese huffed and puffed towards the end, the Malagasy stood their ground and protected their late lead to the very end. And with that triumph, Madagascar are now the first island nation to ever qualify for the final of this competition featuring home-based players.

In the final this Saturday in Kenya's capital Nairobi, they will meet two-time champions Morocco, who beat title holders Senegal 5-3 on penalties in the second semi-final played in Kampala.

Barea outlast Crocodiles 

At the previous CHAN meeting of Sudan and Madagascar two years ago in Algeria, the Barea were leading 3-0 at the break. But this around, in Dar es Salaam, Tunisian referee Mehrez Melki sounded his half-time whistle with the two sides still goalless.

It was 2022 bronze-medallists Madagascar who had started stronger, asking all the questions in the opening 10 minutes inside a sparse stadium — and with the right flank their favoured main route to goal.

But despite the early impetus, Romuald Felix Rakotondrabe's side were hit by an injury to Manitrisa Andy Rakotondrajoa inside the opening three minutes and the Malagasy midfielder had to be stretchered off so prematurely that he had his head in his hands as he was carried off the pitch. He was replaced by Harison Patrick Randrianantenaina.

As the game wore on, the Sudanese imposed themselves more and their gradual momentum allowed more penetration into the Malagasy final third. In fact, Ghanaian coach James Kwesi Appiah's side had their goal disallowed for offside in the 16th minute.

Then three minutes later, Sudan captain Wali Al-Din Khidr's long range freekick forced goalkeeper Michel Ramandimbisoa (Toldo) into a crucial block — gloving the effort out of the danger zone in his first meaningful service in this contest.

On the opposite end, Madagscar continued to make in-roads, yet the resilience of the Sudanse fortress showed. A little over halfway into the opening half, Fenohasina Razafimaro and Onjaniaina Hasinirina (Njawo) caused a moment of panic inside the Crocodiles' area with quick feet, but a timely block stopped Njawo from testing Mohamed Al-Nour Adam in goal.

Not long after, Malagasay skipper Tony Randriamanampisoa had to slap on his afterburners to catch up with the marauding Mousa Hussein Mousa, before muscling the Sudanese forward off the ball in the face of a readied Toldo.

In the 33rd minute, Fenohasina was in the right place to put his side in front, but his header flew wide of the mark as the breakthrough remained elusive.

The second half was as close as the first, marked by the occasional incisiveness but lacking desired precision in the final third to put either goalkeeper to real test. It was also a physical encounter, the flow often interrupted by fouls under referee Melki's keen watch.

In the 78th minute, Madagascar were reduced to 10 men as Fenohasina, who has scored twice in this edition, was dismissed for slamming Mohamed Al-Rasheed Mahmoud in the neck — a blow that knocked the lights out of the Sudanese midfielder, who needed on-pitch medical attention.

After a review of the side-pitch monitor, Fenohasina was showed his second yellow card of the day and sent off.

With one minute of regulation time left, Sudanese skipper Wali Al-Din Khidr blasted the ball over the bar in front of a gaping net after teammate Abdelrazig Taha Yagoub's low pass into the area took a wicked deflection off a defender, before goalie Toldo spilled the ball into the path of the arriving Khidr, who slammed the ground in conspicuous frustration.

With the weary sides still inseparable at the end of 90, the contest dragged into extra time, an additional 30 minutes the Barea had to navigate with a player short. Ahmed Abdelmomen Ahmed, feeling adventurous, tested Toldo with a long-range, midfield strike that whistled close.

Taking advantage of their personnel advantage, Sudan continued to torment Madagascar, who were forced to defend in numbers. Twice, Mousa Hussein Mousa came close but Malagasy veteran keeper Toldo kept his side in it.

The islanders defended tirelessly, even affording to throw their outnumbered men forward to stir up the Sudanese back. Eventually, their resilience paid off, as Rakotondraibe ended a well-crafted attack by Madagscar with a historic goal deep in extra time.

Before Madagascar take on Morocco in Nairobi on Saturday, Sudan and Senegal will battle for third place in Kampala on Friday.