Madagascar were held to a 1-1 draw by Comoros at the Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi on 9 September in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

In an action-packed encounter, Carolus Andria opened the scoring in the 11th minute, but Comoros midfielder Youssouf M'Changama scored on the stroke of half-time to earn a share of the spoils.

This followed a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in their Group A opener on 5 September, when Ferjani Sassi struck in the eighth minute of stoppage time to give the Eagles of Carthage a last-gasp win on home soil.

Rakotondrabe's men have now failed to win any of their last 12 AFCON qualifiers, having lost six and drawn six since their back-to-back victories over Ethiopia and Niger in November 2019.

Madagascar will now look to build on their result against Comoros in September as they seek their first AFCON appearance since their debut campaign in 2019, when they reached the quarter-finals before losing 3-0 to Tunisia.

Like Friday's opponents, Gambia were denied their first win in the race for a place in Morocco last time out, losing 2-1 to Tunisia when the two nations met at the Stade El Abdi.

Ali Sowe scored on his international debut to cancel out Ali Abdi's 11th-minute opener and end the first half level, but Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane struck in the 75th minute to give Tunisia a hard-fought victory.

The Stallions had previously come from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Comoros in their 2025 AFCON qualifier on 4 September, with Youssouf M'Changama and Musa Barrow scoring for both sides.

Johnny McKinstry's men have now failed to win nine of their recent matches in all competitions, drawing two and losing seven, including three successive defeats in Group C of the 2023 AFCON, where they finished last in January.

Gambia's only win in that time came on 8 June, when they thrashed Seychelles 5-1 at the Berkane Municipal Stadium in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in which they have taken just three points from four games, leaving them fifth in Group F.

Madagascar have named 27 players for the October qualifying double-header against Gambia, with Rakotondrabe sticking with the majority of the players called up during September's international break.

We expect an unchanged centre-back pairing of Louis Demoleon and Sochaux man Thomas Fontaine, while skipper Ibrahim Amada, Johan N'Zi and Rayan Raveloson, who has won 33 senior caps since making his debut in June 2019, should link up in the middle of the park.

Up top, veteran striker Andria scored his 11th goal for the Barea last time out against Comoros and the 37-year-old should again lead the attack alongside Arnaud Randrianantenaina and Loic Lapoussin.

As for Gambia, McKinstry has named 23 players for the upcoming qualifiers, including the likes of Ablie Jallow, captain Omar Colley and Brighton and Hove Albion striker Yankuba Minteh.

Caykur Rizespor striker Sowe opened his account for the Stallions against Tunisia last time out, and the 30-year-old should again lead the attack alongside Minteh and Alieu Fadera.

Racing Santander's Suleiman Camara and Swindon Town's Saidou Khan are two of four new faces in the Gambia squad and could make their senior debuts at the Stade Larbi Zaouli.

Madagascar possible starting lineup:

Laiton; Gueguen, Demoleon, Fontaine, Fortun; Raveloson, Amada, N'Zi; Lapoussin, Andria, Randrianantenaina

Gambia possible starting lineup:

Sibi; Ceesay, Gomez, Colley, Toura; Darboe, Barry, Barrow; Minteh, Fadera, Sowe

Prediction:Madagascar 1-1 Gambia

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