Football in Madagascar Information & Football in Madagascar Links at HealthHaven.com

Football is, along with rugby union, one of the most popular sports in the African island nation of Madagascar. The sport is governed in the country by the Fédération Malagasy de Football.

[edit] International

Madagascar's national football team, nicknamed the Barea, has not had great success internationally having never qualified for a FIFA World Cup or an African Nations Cup. They have performed well in some minor competitions however, advancing to the semifinals in the COSAFA Cup (contested between national teams from Southern Africa) in 2008 and winning the football portion of the Indian Ocean Games twice. Some of the country's best players have played professionally overseas, mostly in France.

[edit] Domestic

Madagascar has an unusual domestic arrangement of leagues. The THB Champions League is the country's most prestigious club honor, but clubs qualify for it annually from one of the 22 regional leagues, much like in the UEFA Champions League. The Anamalanga Regional League is the most notable of these regional leagues, which includes the capital of Antananarivo and domestic powerhouses like Ajesaia and AS Adema. The country's main cup competition is the Coupe de Madagascar, whose winners play the THB Champions League winner in the Super Coupe de Madagascar.