MADAGASCAR

Year of formation: 1961 Affiliation FIFA: 1962 Affiliation CAF: 1963 National Stadium: Mahamsina Municipal Stadium, Antananarivo (30 000) National Colours: Red / White / Green

Madagascar made their debut in the Cosafa Castle Cup in 2002 and made an immediate impact on the region with two successive quarter-final appearances. But over the last four years the ‘Barea’, as they are now known, have lost in the opening match of the competition. The Indian Ocean islanders won their first match away from home against Mauritius and then only lost on post-match penalties to South Africa in their quarter-final game in Port Elizabeth in 2002. In 2003 they again beat Mauritius, this time at home in Antananarivo, but then lost their first-ever match in the Cosafa Castle Cup when Swaziland beat them 2-0 in the last eight. In 2004 Madagascar had a disappointing game in Maputo where they lost 2-0 to Mozambique. But the Malagasy have high hopes for the future after their under-20 side won the annual Cosafa youth championship in Durban in 2005.

RECORD