AFCON 2023 qualifiers: Madagascar’s head coach Nicolas Dupuis names two nations who can qualify from Group E

The Coach of ‘Barea’ Nicolas Dupuis has tipped two nations who are favorites to book a place at the major tournament from Group E.

Ahead of Angola and the Central African Republic, Coach Nicolas tipped his side and the Black Stars of Ghana as the favorite for a place at the final tournament in Ivory Coast.

The team took part in its first Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 held in Egypt.

They shook the World with a 2–0 win over Nigeria in the group stage of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 54-year-old French tactician who spoke with Ghanasportpage.com on Monday evening believes Ghana and Madagascar are having the tickets to play in the final tournament.

Madagascar will start its journey against Ghana on Wednesday at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium before they take on Angola.

Speaking in an interview after their final training session in Accra, Coach Nicolas boldly named his team alongside Ghana as the countries to be part of the final 24 nations to participate.

Having asked about the two countries that are likely to advance from the group, he stated;

“Ghana and Madagascar, of course. They can go far. In 2019 we played our first final tournament but I think we can go again. Only four players who played in 2019 are currently with my team. It’s a new team. Madagascar has a new team and the young players are very good.”

Dupuis was appointed manager of Madagascar in March 2017. On 16 October 2018, he helped Madagascar to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after beating Equatorial Guinea 1–0 in Antananarivo, marking Madagascar’s first-ever Africa Cup of Nations appearance.

In January 2019 it was announced that he would combine his role as Madagascar manager with that as technical director of French club FC Fleury 91. In March 2019 Madagascar extended his contract until after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament. After the tournament, he extended his contract for four years in September.