Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers: Madagascar and Gambia Match Moves to Neutral Venue

Madagascar is set to play a crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Gambia, but the match will take place at a neutral venue. With the lack of an international-standard stadium in Madagascar, the game will be held at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, located approximately 8,250 kilometres from the Indian Ocean country.

The Malagasy team is among 16 national teams forced to find neutral venues for matchday 3 and 4 fixtures due to the absence of suitable infrastructure at home. Their upcoming opponent, Gambia, will also experience this displacement, having played their earlier fixtures in El Jadida, Morocco.

In Group A, both Madagascar and Gambia aim to secure the second qualifying spot, with Tunisia anticipated to top the group. The competition is heating up as these teams vie for a place in the 2025 AFCON to be hosted by Morocco. Tunisia remains the only team within their mini-league capable of playing home games, providing them with a significant advantage in the six-round competition.

Comoros have chosen to face Tunisia in the Ivory Coast rather than Morocco, seeking an authentic neutral ground, according to Said Ali Athouman, president of the Comoran Football Federation. “Playing Tunisia in Morocco would have been a disadvantage for us,” Athouman told the Comoran media, citing the ease with which Tunisian supporters can travel to Morocco.

Denis Onyango, a former Uganda goalkeeper, highlighted the challenges faced by teams unable to host matches on home soil. Speaking to AFP, Onyango emphasized, “Playing at home carries many advantages – you lose a lot by not being able to do so.” He stressed the importance of having at least one international-standard stadium in each African country.

The governing body of African football, Confederation of African Football (CAF), has been strict in assessing stadiums, citing “uneven surfaces, poor drainage, and inadequate grass cover” among the reasons for prohibiting certain venues.

Adding to the complexities of the situation, Sudan is unable to host matches due to an ongoing civil war, and Kenya‘s stadiums are unavailable because of renovations in preparation for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in 2025.

Among the displaced nations, Burkina Faso ranks highest, entering the qualifiers ranked within the top 20 on the continent. The challenges of not playing on familiar grounds are palpable, especially for smaller footballing nations striving for a significant international presence.