February 04, (THEWILL) – Madagascar secured third place in the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) with a 1-0 win over Niger, on Friday.
The decisive goal came in the 90th minute from striker Jean Razafindrakoto, who capitalised on an error by Niger goalkeeper, Mahamadou Djibo, to score from inside the box. The win was a fitting end to a successful tournament for Madagascar, who upset several favourites on their way to the third-place playoff match.
Niger, who had reached the semi-final stage of the competition, showed determination to cause an upset in the second half but were unable to take advantage of several good scoring opportunities. Despite the defeat, the Menas can take pride in their performances, having edged past Cameroon and Ghana in the earlier stages of the tournament.
The Berea dominated possession in the first half and had the best chance of the half in added time, but Mario Carlos’ shot was saved by Tanji and the follow-up attempt from Olivier Randriatsiferana went over the bar. Despite the setback, Niger came back from the break with renewed vigour, but the final outcome was determined by Djibo’s mistake and Razafindrokoto’s clinical finish.
The Menas will head home after two consecutive defeats but can look back on a tournament filled with memorable moments.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
