After two victories in two days, the Comoros fell this Friday against Madagascar (1-2) during the third day of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Cusin’s men now share the lead in Group I with their tormentors from day.
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The challenge was significant for the Comoros ; it was not only necessary to try to keep the lead in Group I, but above all to beat Madagascar, the black beast, which has never lost to the Coelacanths in nine confrontations. The tenth will not be good either with this success (2-1) for Barea in this Indian Ocean derby.
It must be said that the Comoros were literally picked up cold with a goal in the first minute of play at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg where Madagascar was exiled due to non-compliant stage at home. It took 56 seconds to see Rayan Raveloson open the scoring, well served by Loic Lapoussin, after Rafidine Abdullah lost the ball.
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A dream start for Romuald Rakotondrabe’s men who could now see it coming. It will be their tactic to thwart the Comorians who have multiplied the sterile attacks, not helped by a garish technical waste especially in the first period.
In the second half, the men of Stefano Cusin will once again suffer the law of the Malagasy with a second goal from Raveloson (66th) despite their domination.
Ghana benefits…
The Coelacanths, however, had clear opportunities to come back like this face-to-face missed by Myziane Maolida in front of Sonny Laiton (72nd) or this strike from Adel Mahamoud saved on his line by Clement Couturier (76th). We had to wait until the last seconds of the match to finally see the new entrant El Fardou Ben find the opening in the opponent’s defense (90+6). But it was already too late.
The Comoros thus lose the lead in Group I on goal difference to Madagascar. Ghana, winner of Mali (2-1) Thursday, also returns to the level of the two teams.
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