renovated at great expense, the capital’s stadium is still not approved

Romuald Rakotondrabe, the coach of Madagascar, does not hide his concern, while his team must host the Comoros and Mali on June 7 and 11, for the 3^e and 4^e qualifying days for the 2026 World Cup.

The Kianja Barea stadium, in Antananarivo, the capital, with a capacity of 40,260 seats, did not receive approval from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after the visit of Namibian Josua Andries Hoebeb, from 4 to 6 april. The continental body informed the Malagasy Football Federation (FMF) by mail that “Based on the inspection report, the stadium is not approved to host the 2026 World Cup qualifiers “.

The sentence may seem surprising given that the enclosure has undergone a major renovation, at an estimated cost of 72.3 million euros, fully covered by the State. The work, carried out by the Chinese company China State Construction Overseas Development (CSCOD), began on January 4, 2020 and lasted more than a year. The stands had been completely razed and then rebuilt, the changing rooms and other amenities rehabilitated.

The stadium, equipped with a hybrid lawn, a mixture of natural and synthetic turf, was inaugurated on September 2, 2021, on the occasion of a qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup between Madagascar and Benin, in the presence of Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic. It was also the scene of a tragedy, during the opening ceremony of the Indian Ocean Islands Games, on August 25, 2023. A stampede at the entrance to the stadium left thirteen dead, including seven minors, and at least eighty injured.

Not all recommendations were followed

This decision by the continental body could therefore force Malagasy players to face the Comorian Coelacanths and the Malian Eagles on neutral ground. “This is a possibility that must indeed be taken into account, and I asked my federation to think about countries where we could play these two matches, such as South Africa, Mauritius or Morocco”confirms Romuald Rakotondrabe.

CAF’s correspondence did not go unanswered, since the Malagasy government and federation announced that the work necessary for the approval of the stadium would begin quickly. During its previous visit in 2021, CAF listed several improvements to be made so that the stadium fully meets its requirements.

These included security standards required by CAF and FIFA. But not all the recommendations were followed. If, since 2021, Madagascar had been able to play the qualifying matches for the 2024 African Cup of Nations in its lair against the Central African Republic, Ghana and Angola, CAF however showed itself to be inflexible after its last inspection.

Madagascar wants to avoid forced exile in June, a first for its players, but it will be necessary to improve emergency exits, the accessibility of supporters to the stadiums, particularly for people with disabilities, and install additional turnstiles at the gates access.

A new inspection after the work is completed?

The state of the pitch also concerned Josua Andries Hoebeb. This was degraded by a tournament in March which brought together Madagascar, Burundi, Botswana and Rwanda. The Secretary of State for new towns and housing assured that the work will be completed by mid-May. “The work financed by the State has already started. They are progressing well. Everything should be finished around May 15, including the lawn.indicates a source at the Malagasy federation.

The government also requested FIFA and CAF to carry out a new inspection once the work was completed. “The State has become aware of the urgency of the situation. If the selection cannot play in Antananarivo against the Comoros and Mali, it will cost a lot of money if a host country has to be found. And for local businesses, located near the stadium, the shortfall is enormous”, adds another source close to the FMF. Barea’s recent matches in the capital’s stadium were played in front of a large audience, and the economic impact of relocating the two matches against the Comoros and Mali would be substantial.

In the recent past, notably during the rehabilitation work on the Kianja Barea stadium, the national team played its official matches in Toamasina (Tamatave) and in Vontovorona, a town located around twenty kilometers from Antananarivo. Two speakers which are no longer approved by the CAF.