Madagascar started their World Cup qualification journey with a solid 2-0 home victory over the Central African Republic on September 5, 2025. Goals in each half secured a comfortable win for the Barea, giving them an ideal platform in a challenging CAF qualification group. The match was controlled by the hosts, who scored an early goal to settle nerves and then added a second after the interval to put the game beyond the reach of the Central African Republic. A standout performance came from Madagascar's attacking players, who combined well to create numerous chances, while their defense remained largely untroubled. This victory places Madagascar at the top of their group in the early standings, applying pressure on their rivals, while the Central African Republic must regroup after an opening defeat. The Madagascar coach expressed satisfaction with his team's application and the clean sheet, a foundation for any successful campaign.