This archive report was first published on 11 July 2019.
Madagascar's remarkable run in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations continues as they face Tunisia in the quarter-finals on Thursday night at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo.
Coach Nicolas Dupuis, a Frenchman who previously coached amateur club FC Fleury, has moulded a talented team of mainly players from lower leagues in France that has shown scant respect to Africa's established order.
"We are happy to give the 25 million Malagasy people back at home joy. We are not in a hurry to return home. We are hoping to stay here as long as possible," Dupuis said.
Madagascar topped their group unbeaten, drawing with Guinea 2-2 before beating Burundi 1-0 and stunning continental giants Nigeria 2-0 in a pool leadership deciding encounter.
They then fought to a 2-2 draw with DR Congo to force a penalty shoot-out that they won 4-2, continuing their remarkable tale.
Madagascar had already created history by qualifying for their first ever African finals, but they stretched their remarkable tale by getting through to the knock-out stage, something more regular campaigners like Harambee Stars have never achieved.
Coach Dupuis told his players before the championship started: "I told them to dream together. I had a good group of players and I told them to keep their consistency, and if we did that, we would go far. I told them everything is possible. It will be difficult but achievable to win matches at the Afcon. I told them to give their people back at home in Madagascar joy."
