Madagascar have gained a massive boost ahead of their maiden outing at the Africa Cup of Nations, with Olympique Lyon of France star, Jeremy Morel now confirmed for their squad list, and a potential outing against Nigeria in their last group match.
Megasportsarena.com can report that the 35-year-old France-born ace defender, who officially committed his future to Madagascar in October, has been named in a provisional list of 23 players for AFCON 2019.
Madagascar’s coach, Nicolas Dupuis, who also named three players on standby, will now bank on Morel, who first played for the team in their final two qualifiers after deciding to play for the island nation, where his father was born, thereby putting him on course to battle Nigeria.
Morel, who will star for The Barea at their first AFCON outing, after his feats in their final two qualification fixtures against Sudan and Senegal, will be joined by Minnesota United’s Romain Metanire and MC Alger midfielder, Ibrahim Amada in a squad that has 11 France-based stars.
Nantes forward Faneva Ima Andriatsima is also included in the squad, but Depuis has left out ace defender, Mario Bakary and France-based midfielder, Zotsaraa Randriambololona, who featured in the qualifiers.
There is a recall for South Africa-based midfielder Andriamiraldo Aro Hasina Andrianarimanana who did not feature in the group stage of the qualifiers for the June 21 to July 19 AFCON in Egypt.
Madagascar, who secured their historic qualification ticket as Group A runners-up behind Senegal, will play Nigeria on June 30 in their last group match of their maiden outing at the Nations Cup next month.
They will tango Nigeria eight days after starting their campaign against Guinea at Alexandria Stadium on June 22, ahead of which Dupuis’ side have an international friendly date with Luxembourg on June 2 in Paris and then face Kenya five days later as they warm up for the contest.
Madagascar are are in Group B alongside Guinea, Burundi and Nigeria, with all their first round matches to be played in Alexandria.