Madagascar's national football team represents the island nation situated off the southeastern coast of Africa, competing under the banner of the Fédération Malagasy de Football. The team has drawn its players from a domestic football scene centred largely in the capital city of Antananarivo, a highland metropolis founded in the seventeenth century at the heart of the island, which is home to several of the country's most prominent clubs, including AS Adema, Ajesaia, and USCA Foot.
For much of its history, the national side competed modestly within the Confederation of African Football, often failing to progress deep into the Africa Cup of Nations qualification rounds. That relative anonymity changed dramatically in 2019, when Madagascar made their debut appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt. The achievement was historic, and the team exceeded all expectations by advancing past the group stage and reaching the quarter-finals before being eliminated. The run captured the imagination of football fans across the continent and at home, marking a defining moment in Malagasy football.
The team's identity is shaped by the passion of supporters in Antananarivo and the broader Malagasy diaspora, with the side often relying on a mix of locally developed talent and players based in French football, reflecting the country's cultural and historical ties to France. Rugby has traditionally held a stronger grip on the national sporting consciousness, making the football team's recent rise all the more significant.
Through the 2020s, the national team has continued to build on that 2019 momentum, working to establish more consistent AFCON qualification campaigns and develop a deeper domestic talent pool.