- Madagascar beat Sudan 1-0 in extra time despite being a man down in the CHAN 2024 semifinal.
- The match was played at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Tanzania on Tuesday, August 26.
- Toky Niaina emerged as Madagascar’s hero, scoring the winning goal just four minutes before the final whistle.
Toky Niaina emerged from the bench to rescue a ten-man Madagascar against a wasteful Sudan in extra time, securing a dramatic 1-0 victory in the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 semifinal staged at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The side coached by Romuald Rakotondrabe battled with a numerical disadvantage for almost 40 minutes after Fenohasina Gilles was sent off in the 78th minute.
Despite the setback, this hard-fought win sends the 2022 third-place finishers to their maiden CHAN final, also making them the first island nation to achieve this feat.
In contrast, James Kwesi Appiah’s Sudan will rue their squandered opportunities.
They must now refocus ahead of the third-place playoff against either Senegal or Morocco, while Madagascar awaits the victor of that clash in the final set for Saturday, 30 August, at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.
First Half: Sudan wastes chances as match remains a cagey affair
In front of a near-empty crowd in Tanzania, the first real chance fell to Sudan in the 20th minute.
After winning a free kick just outside the box, Walieldin Khedr stepped up and unleashed a powerful shot that forced goalkeeper Michel Toldo into a brilliant punch to deny an early opener.
Madagascar responded five minutes later when Nomena Lalaina delivered a crisp pass to Patrick Hasinirina on the left flank.
However, Hasinirina’s strike was deflected out for a corner, which yielded no result.
The Falcons of Jediane nearly broke the deadlock again at the half-hour mark when Musa Ali Hussein sprinted between defenders, only to be closely trailed and subtly nudged by Nantenaina Randriamanampisoa, denying him a shot from close range.
Sudan appeared dominant in the first half but failed to convert their clear-cut chances.
Madagascar, too, had sporadic opportunities but lacked the finishing touch as the half concluded in a goalless stalemate.
Madagascar reduced to ten Men after red card
As the clock ticked past the hour mark in the second half, both sides continued probing without reward, squandering golden opportunities while remaining defensively compact.
With just 15 minutes to go, Madagascar were reduced to ten men after Fenohasina Gilles received a second yellow card, a result of a hand to the face of Mohamed Mahmoud.
The referee consulted VAR before upholding the decision, shifting momentum in Sudan’s favor.
Sudan ramped up the pressure, winning three consecutive corners, yet the resilient Malagasy defense stood firm, repelling every threat.
In the final moments of regulation time, Abdel Raouf delivered a pinpoint cross to Awad Boshara in the box, but his header failed to find the target, missing what could hafve been a match-winner and sending the game into extra time.
Madagascar beat Sudan with 10 men despite Sudan’s dominance
Sudan began extra time with urgency, creating two near-certain scoring chances.
Yet Musa Ali Hussein failed to capitalize, and once again, Toldo proved instrumental in keeping Madagascar’s hopes alive with critical saves.
The first half of extra time ended goalless, a cagey affair dominated by missed opportunities and tactical discipline.
Caught on a devastating counter-attack just four minutes from the final whistle, Madagascar broke the deadlock.
Lalaina Rafanomezantsoa provided a superb cross from the left, and substitute Toky Niaina Rakotondraibe arrived with a clever kneed finish to chip the ball over the goalkeeper.
This historic goal sends his nation to its first-ever CHAN final, improving on their third-place finish in 2022.
Madagascar vs Sudan CHAN 2024 semifinal starting lineups
Sudan XI:
Elnour, Eltayeb, Walieldin, Mazin, Abdelrazig, Yasir, M. Alrashed, M. Fadul, Ahmed, Musa, M. Teya
Madagascar XI:
Toldo, Nicholas, Toky, Tony, Mantirisha, Lalaina, Fenohasina, Njawo, Gregass, Bono, R. Niaina