In the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Madagascar's coach, Romuald Rakotondrabe, has emphasized the serious approach his team is adopting as they prepare to face the Black Stars of Ghana.
The two nations are scheduled to meet at the Baba Yara Stadium in what promises to be a crucial encounter.
Rakotondrabe, while expressing confidence in his team, made it clear that their trip to Ghana is not a vacation but a mission to secure victory in the qualifying match. Madagascar enters the game with an unbeaten streak in their last three matches, creating an air of optimism within the squad.
Despite Ghana's recent setbacks in friendly matches against Mexico and the United States, Rakotondrabe refrains from forming judgments based on those encounters, highlighting the distinction between friendly matches and qualifiers. The coach maintains that friendlies offer a different context and should not be the sole criteria for assessing the capabilities of the Black Stars.
“We can never judge the Black Stars based on two friendlies. Friendlies are different from qualifiers,” Rakotondrabe stated.
He further emphasized the team's purpose for being in Ghana, stating, “We didn't come to Ghana for holidays. We came here to win the game.” This underlines the determination of the Madagascar squad to secure a positive result against Ghana in the World Cup qualifying match.
Reflecting on historical encounters, Rakotondrabe noted that while the last victory against Ghana dates back to 2015 in a friendly, Madagascar is poised to give their all to defeat Ghana on Friday.
The coach's words echo the team's commitment to making a mark in the qualifying campaign and achieving success against formidable opponents.
