Madagascar booked their place in a first-ever TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) final after defeating Sudan 1-0 in a tense semi-final at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday evening.
Substitute Toky Rakotondraibe slotted home from a Fenohasina Rafanomezantsoa pass in the 116th minute to send the Barea into Saturday’s final in Nairobi, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final between Morocco and Senegal.
Both teams, chasing a maiden CHAN final appearance, played with intensity and caution. Madagascar, semi-finalists in 2022, faced a Sudanese side appearing in their third semi-final after previous defeats in 2011 and 2018.
The opening half saw chances for both sides, with Sudan’s Mohamed Tia Asad and Mazin Al Bahli testing goalkeeper Michel Ramandimbisoa, while Madagascar relied on Lalaina Rafanomezantsoa and Fenohasina Razafimaro for attacking thrusts.
Neither side broke the deadlock before half-time.
Sudan dominated parts of the second half, creating the clearest opportunities. Walieldin Khdir missed a header on 53 minutes, and Mubark Abdalla saw a late effort blocked.
Madagascar’s best chance in regular time came from Bono Rabearivelo, who fired narrowly wide after a set-piece.
Strong goalkeeping by Mohamed Abooja and disciplined defending kept the score 0-0, sending the match into extra time.
Extra time saw end-to-end action. Sudan’s Mohamed Ahmed Saeed and Musa Hussien forced key saves from Ramandimbisoa, while Madagascar responded with long-range efforts from Randriamanampisoa and Rafanomezantsoa, both denied by Abooja.
The breakthrough arrived in the 116th minute when Rafanomezantsoa threaded a pass to Rakotondraibe, who calmly finished into the bottom corner, sparking celebrations among the Malagasy players and supporters.
Sudan pressed for an equalizer in the final minutes, with Musab Makeen heading wide and Musa Hussien blocked, but the goal never came.
The victory marks a historic moment for Madagascar, making them the first island nation to reach a CAF senior final.
Coach Romuald Rakotondrabe praised his team’s resilience and unity, highlighting their perseverance until the final whistle.
For Sudan, it was another heartbreak in CHAN semi-finals, extending their wait for a first final appearance.
Madagascar will travel to Nairobi for Saturday’s final at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani, while Sudan will contest the third-place playoff on Friday in Dar es Salaam.
 final after defeating Sudan 1-0 in a tense semi-final at the Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday evening.){kind=link}