11th Indian Ocean Island Games   |25 August 2023

Seychelles lose to the Barea in opening match

The Seychelles football selection started the 11th Indian Ocean Islands Games on the wrong foot yesterday, losing their opening group A match 0-1 against the Barea of Madagascar at the Elgeco Plus Stadium in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

The match’s only goal came courtesy of Tendry Randrianarijaona in the ninth minute through an individual effort, ending with a cracker from outside the box, out of the reach of goalkeeper Alvin Michel.

Despite being the underdogs, the players of coach Vivian Bothe maintained a strict discipline in defence with their 4-4-3 set-up, while being hesitant in the offensive department.

A well on form goalkeeper Michel was outstanding between the posts yesterday, keeping Seychelles in the match with a crucial save early in the match, denying Jean-Yvon Razafindrakoto who headed from close range.

However, a defensive slip-up in the ninth minute allowed Randrianarijaona all the time to control the ball and shoot from long range to give the hosts the lead.

Despite being behind on score, the Seychellois players kept their composure, especially in defence where they managed to contain the Malagasy offences, but failure to keep the ball and be creative in offence kept them behind in the match, losing 0-1 at the half-time whistle.

With a few changes by coach Bothe in the second half, Seychelles once again managed to keep the Barea at bay, despite some individual defensive mistakes.

With pressure brewing in the match, captain Benoit Marie picked up a yellow card in 51st minute for an unsportsmanlike tackle, before his defensive partner Warren Mellie got one of his own in added time for elbowing an opponent.

Seychelles’ next group will be against Mauritius on Monday at the Barea Mahamasina Stadium.

It is to note that the Barea have won the competition on two occasions – 1990 at home and 1993 in Seychelles – while Seychelles won it once on home soil in 2011.

In the other match played yesterday in group B, the derby between Mayotte and the Comoros ended in a 0-0 draw.

Recent results in the Seychelles v Madagascar encounters

24.08.2023             Madagascar - Seychelles              1- 0       Indian Ocean Islands Games

31.07.2022              Madagascar - Seychelles        3 - 0         African Nations Championship (Qualification)

23.07.2022              Seychelles - Madagascar        0 - 1         African Nations Championship (Qualification)

29.05.2018              Seychelles - Madagascar        1 - 1         Cosafa Cup

26.06.2017              Madagascar - Seychelles        2 - 0         Cosafa Cup

11.06.2016              Seychelles - Madagascar        0 - 1         Friendly Match

Roland Duval