Madagascar Welcomed Home by Thousands of Fans in Antananarivo

Madagascar’s football team have returned home to a rapturous reception following their successful 2019 Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

Thousands of fans were at Antananarivo’s airport to great the team who reached the quarter-finals of the continental showpiece in their maiden appearance.

There was a thunderous roar when the squad emerged from the airport terminal to enter an open-top bus that took the players through the streets of the Madagascar capital.

Despite the fact that no public holiday had been declared, crowds turned out in huge numbers to line the streets as the team travelled from the airport to Antananarivo’s city centre.

“The mood is electric. Many people are wearing the national colours of red, green and white, while some are wearing hats sporting pictures of the Bareas,” one of the fans told Ducor Sports.

Bareas captain Faneva Ima led the squad off the plane after it touched down on Madagascar soil with a man-of-the-match trophy that he attained in their match against Nigeria on board.

Many eyes were also on coach Nicolas Dupois, who initially quit after the triumph in protest at his working relationship with officials from the Madagascar Football Federation normalisation committee.

The players will spend Saturday’s evening attending an official function with President Andy Rajoleina.

Madagascar’s unlikely dreams of glory were killed by Tunisia on Wednesday night. Goals from Ferjani Sassi, their captain Youssef Msakni and the substitute Naim Sliti secured a 3-0 quarter-final win in Cairo to set up a showdown with Senegal on Sunday.