Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Gambiavs.Madagascar

sportsmole.co.uk, 12 October 2024, 17:46
The penultimate gameweek four fixture in Group A of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will see Gambia take on Madagascar at Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi on Monday afternoon.

These two locked horns just three days ago in Casablanca and played out a 1-1 draw, with both goals coming deep in stoppage time at the end of each half.

Match preview

Gambia went into last week's match as the marginal favourites and dominated the game from the first whistle, but despite managing 22 shots at goal, it took virtually the final kick of the game for them to find the back of the net.

The man responsible for sparing the Scorpions' blushes was Brighton & Hove Albion's Yankuba Minteh, who netted in the seventh minute of added time beyond the 90, to cancel out Clement Couturier's opener in the second minute of stoppage time at the end of the first period.

Adding to the disappointment for Johnny McKinstry last week was seeing Comoros pull off an against-the-odds victory over Tunisia in Rades, meaning that a defeat for his side here will result in them needing to beat both of the aforementioned in their final two matches of the group to have a chance of finishing in the top two.

Of course, it does not help matters that due to the stadiums in Gambia failing to meet FIFA standards, McKinstry's side is forced to play their 'home' games at a neutral venue, in this case, Morocco.

Still, the two positives for the Scorpions' new boss are that his side have only been beaten by Gabon and Tunisia since his arrival (W1 D2 L2), and they have also found the net in each of his first five matches in charge.

Meanwhile, Madagascar have arguably been a tad unlucky to still be at the bottom of the table, as they have proven that while they may not be the most attacking team around, they are certainly a tough side to beat.

Madagascar's major issue has been their tendency to drop points from solid positions, having now done so in all three matches in this competition.

Last week was the second time Barea experienced heartbreak in stoppage time in this competition, having suffered the same fate in their opening game against Tunisia, while on matchday two, they took an early lead against Comoros but conceded just before the interval and had to settle for a point.

However, under the guidance of Romuald Rakotondrabe, there has undoubtedly been a major improvement, as the side have only lost three of their last 10 games (W4 D3 L3), with those defeats coming against formidable opponents in Ghana, Rwanda and Tunisia.

Gambia Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:

D

L

D

Gambia form (all competitions):

L

L

W

D

L

D

Madagascar Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:

L

D

D

Madagascar form (all competitions):

L

W

D

L

D

D

Team News

Minteh has been the main man for Gambia in recent times, playing a role in three of the last four goals the side have scored, including tucking away two himself while setting up Ali Sowe against Tunisia.

The Brighton attacker will almost certainly feature from the start this week, while McKinstry may be tempted to bring Musa Barrow back into the starting 11 after a fairly underwhelming performance from Muhammed Badamosi last time out.

For Madagascar, Nicolas Fontaine is likely to return to the starting lineup this week to partner Louis Demoleon in central defence, while Radoniaina Rabemanantsoa and Kenji-Van Boto should keep their spots at full-back.

Marco Ilaimaharitra made an impressive cameo off the bench and could be handed a start, potentially for teenager El Hadari Raheriniaina, in which case Rakotondrabe may revert to a 4-4-2 with Warren Caddy and Ryan Ponti leading the line.

Gambia possible starting lineup:

Jarju; Ceesay, Gomez, Colley, Touray; Khan, Adams, Sowe, Jallow, Minteh; Barrow

Madagascar possible starting lineup:

Laiton; Rabemanantsoa, Demoleon, Fontaine, Boto; Raveloson, Amada, Couturier, Ilaimaharitra; Caddy, Ponti

We say: Gambia 1-1 Madagascar

While Gambia dominated play in the last match, Madagascar have proven time and again of late that they are a difficult side to defeat. There was nothing to separate these two at the final whistle last week and we are expecting the same outcome in this one.

Previews by email

Top News

1 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has ruled out a future career in coaching as he admitted he is unsure whether he will play in the 2026 World Cup. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly knocked back several offers from interested clubs for teenage starlet Claudio Echeverri. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk French off the back of reaching the Taca da Liga semi-finals, Benfica return to action in the Primeira Liga when they visit the Estadio de Sao Luis to face SC Farense on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly ready to part ways with Aurelien Tchouameni and could offer the midfielder as part of a deal to sign Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gil Vicente will be looking to make it five straight games without defeat on home turf this season when they play host to Boavista in round 10 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are one of five European giants who have been alerted by Jamal Musiala's contract situation at Bayern Munich. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vincent Kompany will be hoping that his Bayern Munich side can maintain their unbeaten record in the Bundesliga on Saturday when they host Union Berlin at the Allianz Arena. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt are set to host VfL Bochum on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in the Bundesliga. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nuri Sahin's side are in desperate need of a win, but they face a difficult task on Saturday given they welcome RB Leipzig to Signal Iduna Park in their ninth Bundesliga match of the season. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In their ninth Bundesliga game of the season, relegation threatened Wolfsburg are set to host Augsburg on Saturday at Volkswagen Arena. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who have turned a corner of late go head to head in round 11 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Fortuna Sittard welcome Heerenveen to the Fortuna Sittard Stadion on Sunday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest will endeavour to win their third consecutive Premier League game when they welcome West Ham United to the City Ground on Saturday afternoon. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In one of two high-profile matches round 11 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season has to offer, Feyenoord and AZ Alkmaar will do battle at De Kuip on Saturday evening. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both gunning for promotion in their respective divisions, Walsall and Bolton Wanderers will turn their attentions to the FA Cup as they meet for a first-round tie at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have received a major injury boost regarding Manuel Akanji, according to a report. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk La Liga giants Barcelona are monitoring the situation of Rafael Leao at AC Milan, according to a report. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that Bournemouth 'should not abandon their principles' in Saturday's clash with the Premier League champions at the Vitality Stadium. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Holstein Kiel and Heidenheim meet at Holstein-Stadion in Saturday's gameweek nine match in a battle between a host in their first Bundesliga season and an opponent in their second-ever top-flight year. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United interim head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has said that the Red Devils "can and have to perform better", as he prepares the team for Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruud van Nistelrooy has said that he is expecting to remain at Manchester United as an assistant manager once the club have finalised a deal for Erik ten Hag's long-term replacement. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to make it back-to-back wins in pursuit of the top six in the Championship table, Sheffield Wednesday and Watford will meet at Hillsborough on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to bounce back to winning ways in their fights at opposite ends of the Championship table, Leeds United and Plymouth Argyle will square off at Elland Road on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Securing consecutive wins for the first time since September will be the major objective for Heracles as they entertain the challenge of NAC Breda at the Asito Stadium on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly started to consider other options in the transfer market at left-back, due to the predicted wage demands of Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City manager Steve Cooper is expected to recall several of his first-team stars for Saturday's Premier League clash with Ipswich Town at Portman Road. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town could be without as many as 10 players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Leicester City at Portman Road. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Separated by just three points in the top six of the Championship table, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United will meet in an important contest at Ewood Park on Saturday. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Last season's top two in the Championship lock horns at Portman Road for a Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon when Ipswich Town play host to Leicester City. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk In their first MLS playoff contest at Citi Field since 2022, New York City FC host FC Cincinnati needing a win on Saturday to stay alive in the quest for the cup. 31 October 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The Premier League have released the shortlist for October's Player of the Month award, with players from clubs up and down the table and all over the pitch included.