Madagascar coach Romuald Rakotondrabe “Rôrô” is setting the stage for a fierce battle in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers, asserting that his team is not in Ghana for a leisurely holiday as they prepare to face the Black Stars in Kumasi on Friday.
Addressing the media at his pre-match press conference, the Barrea trainer expressed his team’s determination to secure a victory, challenging historical statistics that favour the Black Stars in competitive matches at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
“We didn’t come to Ghana for holidays. We came here to win the game,” emphasized Rôrô, instilling a fighting spirit in his squad.
Despite a history of past defeats against Ghana, Rôrô remains optimistic about his team’s chances, highlighting their commitment to securing a favorable result.
He dismissed any complacency based on Ghana’s recent poor performances in friendlies, emphasizing the distinction between friendly matches and the intensity of qualifiers.
“It’s very true that the last time we beat Ghana was in 2015, and that was a friendly. We are going to do everything possible to defeat Ghana on Friday,” he declared.
“I can never judge the Black Stars based on two friendlies. Friendlies are different from qualifiers.”
As the road to the 2026 Fifa World Cup finally begins for Africa, Rôrô’s Madagascar is gearing up for a challenging qualification campaign, eyeing a breakthrough against Ghana to set the tone for their journey.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, will feature 48 countries, marking the first time since the tournament’s inception with an expanded participation.
