Madagascar eyes return home ahead of 2027 AFCON qualifiers

Madagascar hopes to secure full accreditation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for the banned Barea Mahamasina Stadium in the capital, Antananarivo. The stadium was deemed unfit to host international matches by CAF.

The 40,000-seater stadium has since undergone a major facelift with support from the Madagascar government and the Malagasy Football Federation. As a result, the Barea have been playing its home matches in countries such as Morocco, Ivory Coast, and South Africa.

According to Midi Madagasikara, the government expects the full renovation of the stadium to be completed by June 2026. Madagascar’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Alain Désiré Rasambany, told national television that the renovation is progressing in accordance with the recommendations given by CAF.

CAF recommended that the playing pitch and the dressing rooms be rebuilt or replaced. The government and the federation have already chosen the type of turf for the new playing surface, with construction set to begin this month.

The island nation hopes to obtain permanent accreditation from CAF by June 2026, ahead of 2027 African Cup of Nations qualifying. The Barea will begin qualifying when the group stage commences in late September.