10/10/2024
Match Preview: Madagascar vs Gambia - Predicted Lineup and Team News.
As anticipation builds for Friday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash, Madagascar and Gambia are both eager to capture their first victory in Group A. The match will take place at the Stade Larbi Zaouli, where both teams will be looking to reverse their fortunes.
Coached by Romuald Rakotondrabe, Madagascar has struggled significantly in their recent qualifying attempts. They are on a disheartening streak of 12 matches without a win, dating back to November 2019. Their last outing ended in a 1-1 draw against Comoros on September 9. Madagascar was initially hopeful when Carolus Andria netted in the 11th minute, but a late equalizer from Youssouf M'Changama denied them all three points.
Prior to that, Madagascar opened their campaign with a narrow 1-0 loss to Tunisia, conceding a heartbreaking goal in the dying moments of the match. This sequence leaves the team desperate for a victory, especially after finishing as quarter-finalists in their debut AFCON campaign in 2019.
On the other side, Gambia, under the guidance of Johnny McKinstry, also finds themselves in need of a positive result. Their previous match saw them narrowly defeated 2-1 by Tunisia despite Ali Sowe scoring his first international goal.
The Stallions had previously managed a 1-1 draw with Comoros, but overall, they have not won in nine attempts across all competitions, including a disappointing bottom-place finish in the latest AFCON.
In terms of squad news, Madagascar has retained a core group from their last selection, bringing 27 players into the mix, and we can expect an unchanged defensive lineup.
Ibrahim Amada will likely lead a midfield featuring Johan N'Zi and Rayan Raveloson.
Veteran striker Andria, who recently marked his 11th goal for the national side, is set to spearhead the attack.
Gambia has assembled a 23-player roster, including notable names like Ablie Jallow and captain Omar Colley.
Following his debut goal, Sowe is expected to lead the charge upfront again, supported by the likes of Yankuba Minteh and Alieu Fadera. The squad has also welcomed new faces, with potential debuts on the horizon for some players.
Predicting the starting XI for Madagascar: Laiton; Gueguen, Demoleon, Fontaine, Fortun; Raveloson, Amada, N'Zi; Lapoussin, Andria, Randrianantenaina.
For Gambia, a probable lineup could be: Sibi; Ceesay, Gomez, Colley, Toura; Darboe, Barry, Barrow; Minteh, Fadera, Sowe.
Our prediction sees this match ending in a tight 1-1 draw. While both teams are eager for their first win in this qualifying round, their struggles thus far suggest a likely stalemate at the Stade Larbi Zaouli.
