The Barea of Madagascar face the Coelacanthes of the Comoros in a decisive Indian Ocean derby for the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. In Abidjan, Corentin Martins’ men are playing their part to consolidate their second place in Group I and dream of a historic qualification.
The Félix Houphouët-Boigny stadium in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, will be the scene of a crucial clash between the Barea of Madagascar and the Coelacanthes of Comoros, this evening at 7:00 p.m. Malagasy time. This Indian Ocean derby, counting for the ninth day of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in Africa, could seal the fate of the Bareas in their quest for historic qualification. In group I, tension is at its height. The Barea, currently second with 16 points, are ahead of the Comoros, third, by only one point (15 points). This match promises to be a real double or nothing for the protégés of Corentin Martins. A victory would allow Madagascar to consolidate its position and approach the final day, against Mali, with a psychological and accounting advantage. Conversely, a misstep could compromise their chances of direct qualification and relegate them to second place, synonymous with a play-off.
Preparation under constraint
The French coach, Corentin Martins, had to deal with a tight schedule. Although a large part of the squad was already present for Monday’s training, certain players, held back by their club commitments until Sunday, only joined the selection on Monday evening. So, this Tuesday was the only day to refine the automation with a full group. With continuity in his choices, with almost 90% of the players called up already present during the last regrouping in September, coach Coco is banking on the cohesion and knowledge of his squad to make the difference.
A high-stakes derby. This duel against the Comoros goes beyond the simple sporting framework. It’s a regional rivalry, where supremacy in the Indian Ocean is at stake. The Barea, driven by their ambition and dynamic, know that every action tonight will count. The Coelacanths, for their part, arrive with the firm intention of overthrowing their Malagasy neighbors and seizing second place in the group. In the other matches of this ninth day, Ghana will meet the Central African Republic, while Mali will face the Sao of Chad. These matches will also be important for the final ranking of the group, before a final day when Madagascar will travel to Bamako to challenge the Eagles of Mali, on October 12. This last meeting already promises to be a final for the Bareas.
Power of Samson