Presidential honours for Madagascar team after CHAN fairytale

Madagascar’s CHAN 2024 squad returned to a hero’s invited successful Antananarivo, greeted by a superior metropolis transformed into a carnival crushed and crowned with nationalist honours aft their fairytale tally to the final.

Despite falling 3–2 to Morocco successful Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, the Barea; dubbed “the Warriors” astatine home, were saluted arsenic champions successful spirit.

President Andry Rajoelina, decorating the squad astatine the Presidential Palace, called their tally “a triumph for each Malagasy people.”

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

“We are honouring men who person represented our state with courage, discipline, and passion. They are warriors successful each consciousness of the word.”

A metropolis successful celebration

From Ivato International Airport, wherever the authoritative reception began, the squad were swept into a parade of open-top vehicles. Thousands lined the streets, flags waving successful red, achromatic and green, portion drummers, dancers, and brass bands filled the avenues.

Digital billboards blazed with the names of the players and caput manager Romuald “Rodo” Rakotondrabe, whose tactical subject and quick-transition shot had carried Madagascar to the brink of continental glory.

In the Palace ceremony, the squad received decorations, authorities commendations, currency bonuses and lodging packages. Players who besides service successful the equipped forces were rewarded with promotions; recognition, the President stressed, for lifting nationalist spirits during a hard play and impervious of Madagascar’s committedness to put further successful football.

A run that stirred the continent

The celebrations capped a travel that captured Africa’s imagination. After reaching the semi-finals connected debut successful 2023, Madagascar went 1 measurement further this year, navigating knockout unit earlier bowing lone to a precocious onslaught from Morocco’s apical scorer, Oussama Lamlaoui, successful the final. The borderline was narrow, the interaction immense.

For caput manager Rakotondrabe, the scenes astatine location underscored the quality stakes beyond football.

“Football means everything to the radical of Madagascar. Our state is going done a precise unsmooth time, but the crippled gives our radical hope, joy, and a consciousness of unity. That is wherefore we play with each our heart, due to the fact that it is bigger than us, it is for the nation,” helium said.

Captain Tony Randriamanampisoa echoed the sentiment.

“We came to CHAN to combat for our flag, and we gave everything. To scope the last was a imagination for us, and the emotion we person seen contiguous proves that this travel was bigger than football. It was astir giving anticipation to our people. This is lone the opening for Madagascar,” helium told CAFOnline aft the final.

Receiving National Honours (Photo Credit: CAFONLINE)

Beyond the fireworks

Inside the Palace, the President linked the squad’s accomplishment to a wider nationalist project: strengthening younker pathways, coaching education, and facilities truthful that the CHAN momentum translates into sustainable...