Heroes’ welcome and presidential honours for Madagascar after CHAN fairytale

Madagascar’s CHAN 2024 team returned to a capital in carnival mood and walked straight into national honours, after the President praised their run to the final as “a victory for all Malagasy people.”

Thousands lined the streets of Antananarivo to greet the squad following their 3–2 defeat to Morocco in the TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) final at Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

From the airport to city centre, flags waved, songs rang out and digital billboards flashed the names of the coach and players as the country saluted a campaign that defied expectation.

The celebrations moved from the highway to the halls of state.

In a ceremony at the Presidential Palace, players, technical staff and officials received decorations and state commendations, capping a homecoming that doubled as a civic parade and a moment of national reflection.

“Today, we are not just celebrating footballers,” the President said.

“We are honouring men who have represented our country with courage, discipline, and passion. They are warriors in every sense of the word.”

The head of state confirmed a suite of rewards for the squad: cash bonuses and housing packages for all, and promotions for those who also serve in the armed forces.

The measures, he said, were intended to recognise a performance that lifted spirits during a challenging period and to signal continuing investment in the game’s growth.

Madagascar’s run captured attention across the continent.

Having reached the semi-finals on debut in 2023, the Barea—referred to repeatedly at home as “the Warriors” during this campaign—went one step further, holding their nerve through knock-out tension and falling only to a late strike from Morocco’s tournament top scorer, Oussama Lamlaoui, in Nairobi.

The margin was narrow; the impact at home, immense.

At Ivato International Airport, where the official reception began, government officials and football federation leaders offered tributes before the squad boarded open-top vehicles for the route into town. Drummers and dancers fell in behind, and supporters—many in replica shirts—tracked the convoy through avenues bathed in red, white and green.

Head coach Romuald “Rodo” Rakotondrabe, who stitched together a resilient side built on organisation and quick transitions, used the occasion to underline the human story behind the football.

“Football means everything to the people of Madagascar. Our country is going through a very rough time, but the game gives our people hope, joy, and a sense of unity. That is why we play with all our heart, because it is bigger than us, it is for the nation,” he said.

Captain Tony Randriamanampisoa echoed the sentiment, emphasising pride as much as pain after the near miss.

“We came to CHAN to fight for our flag, and we gave everything. To reach the final was a dream for us, and the love we have seen today proves that this journey was bigger than football. It was about giving hope to our people. This is only the beginning for Madagascar,” he told CAFOnline just after the final.

Inside the Palace, the squad heard the President link their achievement to a wider national project.

The honours list, he said, was only one part of a broader commitment to strengthen domestic structures—youth pathways, coaching education and facilities—so that the momentum of CHAN would not ebb away with the fireworks.

“They are warriors in every sense of the word,” he said again, framing the campaign as both sporting breakthrough and civic example.

The event closed with a pledge from senior players to support grassroots initiatives and act as ambassadors for unity. Several members of the team plan to tour schools and community pitches in the coming weeks, while the federation prepares a programme of thank-you matches across the regions.

On the streets, the party rolled into the night. Makeshift stages sprang up in neighbourhood squares; traditional musicians mixed with brass bands; choreographed routines gave way to spontaneous circles of dance.

For many, the pageantry was not simply about silver medals but about a re-imagined ceiling for Malagasy football.

Madagascar did not lift the trophy. Yet from the airport welcome to the presidential salute, the message was clear: the runners-up returned as champions in the public imagination.

In the process, they reinforced a belief that a nation can rally around a team that plays with courage and identity—and that the light they struck in Pamoja 2024 can be the start of something lasting.

As the players dispersed to clubs and a short off-season, Rakotondrabe allowed himself a glance forward. The next step is to convert emotion into programme: keep the core of the side together, refresh with new talent, and continue to strengthen the domestic league so that future finals feel less like fairytales and more like milestones.

“It is for the nation,” he had said. After this week’s scenes, few in Madagascar would disagree.

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