Madagascar goalkeeper Michel Ramandimbisoa has been one of the standout players of the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The 39-year-old Antananarivo-born goalie has saved 25 of the 29 shots that he has faced at the biennial tournament. He has won Man of the Match awards in Madagascar’s group games against Burkina Faso, the Central Africa Republic, and Mauritania.
His performances have been key to the ‘Barea’ stirring passage to the final. The Indian Ocean islanders drew 0-0 with Mauritania in their opening match, lost 2-1 to Tanzania in their second match before bouncing back to finish second in Group ‘B’ after defeating the Central African Republic 2-0 and Burkina Faso 2-1.
Madagascar players in training at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on August 21.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation
Ramandimbisoa registered 17 saves, including seven in their do-or-die clash against Burkina Faso. In the quarter-final against Kenya at Kasarani on August 22, Ramandimbisoa was in fine form yet again as Madagascar ran out 4-3 winners on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra-time.
Harambee Stars fans felt hard done by a decision by Senegalese referee Adalbert Diouf to disallow Ryan Ogam’s goal due to a foul in the buildup. The referee’s decision denied Harambee Stars what would have been a commanding 2-0 lead as Ogam had scored soon after Alphonse Omija had given the home side the lead. Madagascar equalised via a Fenohasina Razafimaro penalty kick.
Reflecting on his performance against Harambee Stars, Ramandimbisoa praised the quality of Ogam’s disallowed goal. “That was a good volley,” he told Nation Sport in an exclusive interview at his team’s hotel in Nairobi yesterday night. “We are sorry to Kenyans but it is sport,” he added. In the semi-finals, Madagascar defeated Sudan 1-0 in extra-time to become the first island nation to reach an Afcon or Chan final.
Madagascar’s veteran goalkeeper, Michel Ramandimbisoa, poses with the man-of-the-match trophy after their Group B match against the Central African Republic in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Photo credit: CAF
Ramandimbisoa made four saves as Madagascar played with 10 men for 50 minutes after Razafimaro was sent off in the 78th minute for a reckless challenge.
Ramandimbisoa leads in Man of Match awards thus far, and Madagascar will be hoping that he keeps his form when they meet two-time champions Morocco in the final at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, today.
The match will kick off at 6 pm. Ramandimbisoa’s phenomenal performances at his advanced age have made African football fans wonder where he had been all along. It is only this year that he started featuring regularly for Madagascar after failing to make their 2019 Afcon and 2022 Chan squads. The Barea were debutants in both tournaments.
They reached the quarter-finals at the 2019 Afcon in Egypt and finished third at the 2022 Chan in Algeria. “I could not play for Madagascar at 2022 Chan because I was playing in Seychelles for Saint Louis Suns United,” he said. Only players plying their trade in their country’s domestic league are eligible to play at Chan.
Ramandimbisoa played for the Seychellois club for nine years before returning home in January this year to join ASSM Elgeco Plus.
Madagascar’s veteran goalkeeper, Michel Ramandimbisoa, poses with the man-of-the-match trophy after their Group B match against Burkina Faso in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Photo credit: CAF
He was voted the Seychelles Premier League’s best goalkeeper for the 2023-24 season and won one league title with them.
“Also, it was challenging for me to make Madagascar’s other squads because my country has many goalkeepers playing in Europe,” Ramandimbisoa, who also helped Madagascar reach the semi-final of this year’s Cosafa Cup, added.
The Malagasy goalkeeper made his international debut in 2015. “I also played for Madagascar at U-17, U-20, and U-23 level, ” he said.
“I always wanted to be a goalkeeper,” he added. Ramandimbisoa was born on February 11, 1986 and started playing football at the age of five. Before moving to Seychelles, he had featured for Tana Formation and USCA Foot in the Malagasy top division football.
Nicknamed “Toldo” after former Italian goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, Ramandimbisoa ranked German Manuel Neuer and Brazilian Ederson as goalkeepers he most admires.
“Neuer has very good reflexes and is good with the ball at his feet. He is also a leader. Ederson also stands out for me for similar reasons,” he said.
Looking into the future, Ramandimbisoa hopes to emulate another legendary goalkeeper, Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon.
“I am not thinking of retiring right now. I still feel I can go on until I am 45 like Buffon did. I will continue playing for as long as my body can keep up. “Age is nothing but a number,” he said. Ramandimbisoa credits his longevity to “discipline, good nutrition, and keeping fit.”
"It is basically all about maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” he said. The Madagascar number one is married with one daughter.
