Stalemate in Dar: Ten-man Madagascar hold Mauritania in CHAN 2024 Group B chess match
What you need to know:
- In a match where discipline, defensive structure, and missed opportunities took center stage, both sides walked away with a point—leaving Group B wide open in this five-team battle for quarter-final slots
Dar es Salaam. Ten-man Madagascar showed grit and tactical maturity to hold Mauritania to a goalless draw in a tightly contested Group B opener of the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) PAMOJA 2024 on Sunday, August 3, 2025 evening at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium.
In a match where discipline, defensive structure, and missed opportunities took center stage, both sides walked away with a point—leaving Group B wide open in this five-team battle for quarter-final slots.
Madagascar, bronze medalists in the last edition and one of the tournament’s rising forces, began brightly under coach Romuald Rakotondrabe.
The Barea pressed high early on, with captain Andriamirado “Dax” Andrianarimanana orchestrating play from midfield.
However, their rhythm was disrupted in the 39th minute when Dax received a second yellow card, forcing the islanders to play the remainder of the match with 10 men.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Madagascar remained compact and composed. Goalkeeper Michel Ramandimbisoa turned in a man-of-the-match performance, producing a series of sharp saves—most notably a close-range stop to deny Mohamed Hawbott in the first half and a fingertip stretch to block Moulaye Al Khalil’s effort late in the game.
Mauritania, making their fourth CHAN appearance and seeking to finally break their winless streak in tournament openers, controlled possession after the red card but failed to capitalize.
Coach Aritz López Garai’s side lacked the cutting edge in the final third, and their struggles in front of goal continued—having now failed to score in all four CHAN openers they've played.
Substitute Moctar El Hacen came closest to snatching a winner in stoppage time, but his curling shot drifted inches past the top corner.
For Madagascar, the draw will feel like a small victory given the adversity they faced.
Their backline, anchored by strong individual performances and collective discipline, weathered sustained second-half pressure to secure a valuable point.
Mauritania, on the other hand, may see this as a missed opportunity. With a man advantage and more possession, the Mourabitounes will be disappointed not to have claimed all three points.
With group heavyweights Tanzania and Burkina Faso still to come, and the Central African Republic waiting in the wings, both teams know that small margins could decide their tournament fate.
The group remains delicately poised, with every match now carrying weight.
Mauritania will next face tournament hosts Tanzania in a high-stakes encounter, while Madagascar prepare to take on the Central African Republic in what promises to be another tactical battle.
