When Madagascar and Sudan step onto the pitch for their semi-final at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, the spotlight will inevitably fall on strikers, coaches, and tactics.

Yet, in truth, this contest may be defined in the silence between the posts.

Two goalkeepers — Madagascar’s 39-year-old Michel ‘Toldo’ Ramandimbisoa and Sudan’s penalty hero Mohamed Alnour ‘Abooja’ Adam Saeed — carry the weight of nations, their gloves the final line between triumph and despair.

Walls Between the Posts

Few players at CHAN PAMOJA 2024 have captured the imagination like Ramandimbisoa. At 39, he represents both longevity and leadership.

Though not always wearing the captain’s armband, he has embodied calm and resilience for the Barea.

His saves against Mauritania in the opener set the tone, holding the line even after Madagascar’s leader was dismissed.

Three Man of the Match awards, two clean sheets, and countless interventions later, he has become a tournament icon.

The quarter-final against Kenya showed why. In front of a roaring Kasarani crowd, Ramandimbisoa denied two penalties in the shootout, steering Madagascar to a historic 4-3 victory.

As one teammate put it: “When Michel stands in goal, we feel ten feet taller.”

On the other side is Mohamed Abooja, Sudan’s fearless last line. Against Algeria — finalists in 2022 and heavy favorites — he etched his name into folklore.

After 120 minutes of drama, Abooja saved twice in the penalty shootout, dismantling Algerian dreams and lifting Sudan into their first CHAN semi-final since 2018.

Abooja, reflecting on that night, told CAFonline.com: “In penalties, you cannot show fear. I read the striker’s body, I commit late, and I trust my instincts. That’s what gave my team the belief to go through.”

Contrasting Styles, Same Impact

Ramandimbisoa’s strength lies in anticipation and positioning. He rarely dives unnecessarily, preferring to command his box like a general, cutting angles before opponents even realize.

His voice never stops; he organizes, instructs, calms.

Abooja, by contrast, thrives in chaos. He is instinctive, feeding off pressure, often producing the extraordinary when it matters most.

His shootout saves against Algeria were not just technical — they were psychological blows that broke the opposition’s rhythm.

Together, they represent a clash of philosophies: experience versus instinct, composure versus raw courage

Psychological Edge

Semi-finals are often not about who plays better football, but who manages nerves. Ramandimbisoa, with nearly two decades in the game, knows how to silence pressure.

He explained after the Kenya win: “Penalties are not just about technique. You must be calm. If I look calm, the striker starts to panic. That is my weapon.”

Abooja, meanwhile, thrives on energy: “When I save, I don’t just save for myself — I save for Sudan. I want my teammates to see me fight, so they fight harder.”

Should this semi-final stretch into extra time or penalties, the psychological tug-of-war between these two men could eclipse any tactical battle.

Beyond the Gloves: Carrying Nations

For Madagascar, Ramandimbisoa symbolizes belief. At 39, he has become the unlikely face of a team that continues to punch above its weight.

For Sudan, Abooja is the beating heart of a side playing under unimaginable adversity, with domestic football crippled by conflict.

Both keepers, in different ways, embody resilience.

Sudan coach Kwesi Appiah said of his No.1: “Abooja is more than a goalkeeper. He gives this team courage. When he saves, the whole nation feels lifted.”

Madagascar coach Romuald Rakotondrabe was equally effusive: “Michel is our leader, even without the armband. He shows our players that nothing is impossible.”

The Decider in Dar es Salaam

As the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium fills with anticipation, fans will look for goals, for celebrations, for moments of attacking brilliance.

Yet the real story may unfold in the quiet determination of two men between the posts.

If Ramandimbisoa continues his fairytale, Madagascar could reach their first-ever CHAN final. If Abooja repeats his heroics, Sudan could deliver East Africa’s first finalist.

Whichever way it goes, the narrative of CHAN PAMOJA 2024 will remember not only the goals scored but the goals denied — by the walls named Ramandimbisoa and Abooja.

-CAF

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No more home advantage as the African Nations Championship gets to the home stretch. All three co-host countries have been eliminated as the CHAN 2024 takes a dramatic turn.

All three co-hosts, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, were dumped out of the competition at the quarter-final stage over the weekend.

Uganda were the latest casualties on Saturday, falling 1-0 to defending champions Senegal in front of more than 35,000 passionate home fans.

The decisive moment came in the 62nd minute when Libasse Guèye delivered a dangerous cross from the right that eluded Uganda’s defence and was turned home by Oumar Ba, underlining Senegal’s tournament pedigree.

Earlier, Kenya’s campaign ended in heartbreak as they became the first host nation to bow out, losing on penalties to a resilient Madagascar.

Tanzania followed soon after, edged 1-0 by Morocco, the two-time champions and immediate past holders.

The quarter-final outcomes have set up a heavyweight clash between reigning champions Senegal and Morocco, who lifted back-to-back titles before Senegal’s triumph. In the other semi-final, Sudan—who ousted Algeria on penalties—will take on Madagascar in a surprise showdown.

With the host nations gone, attention now turns to whether Senegal can defend their crown or if Morocco will reclaim theirs, as Madagascar and Sudan eye a fairytale run to the final.

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Kenya’s dream run at their debut African Nations Championship (CHAN) ended in heartbreak on Friday as Madagascar held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to reach the semi-finals.

The Harambee Stars, roared on by a partisan Kasarani crowd, were bidding to reach their first continental semi-final in 38 years.

But after a tense 1-1 draw across 120 minutes, Madagascar prevailed 4-3 on spot-kicks, with Toky Rakotondraibe converting the decisive penalty after Alphonce Omija missed for the hosts.

The night began with hope for Kenya, and it was centre-back Alphonce Omija who provided it.

Just three minutes into the second half, the towering defender rose highest to meet Boniface Muchiri’s delivery and steered a precise header into the bottom corner.

It was a goal that sent Kasarani into delirium and appeared to put Benni McCarthy’s men on course for history.

Moments later, Ryan Ogam thought he had doubled the lead, but VAR intervened to chalk off the strike for a foul in the build-up. That decision proved pivotal.

Madagascar regrouped and, in the 66th minute, found their route back. A Lewis Bandi handball handed Fenohasina Razafimaro the chance from the spot, and he calmly beat Byrne Omondi to level matters.

Omija, who had given Kenya the lead, would later miss his kick in the decisive penalty sequence, underlining the cruel symmetry of football at tournament level.

Penalty shoot-out drama

With the game locked at 1-1 after extra time, the contest went to penalties.

Kenya initially matched their opponents, with Siraj Mohammed and Daniel Sakari scoring confidently. Sylvester Owino also found the net.

But pressure told as Mike Kibwage’s effort was saved by Madagascar keeper Michel Ramandimbisoa.

When Omija then dragged his attempt wide, Madagascar seized the moment.

Toky Rakotondraibe stepped up and drove his kick low past Omondi, sparking celebrations from the Malagasy players and bench.

For Kenya, it was a bitter conclusion to what had been a historic tournament.

The Harambee Stars had arrived unbeaten from the group stage, topping a pool that included former champions Morocco and DR Congo.

Coach Benni McCarthy, who had urged his players to remain calm before the quarter-final, will reflect on a campaign that delivered pride, defensive resilience, and hope for the future.

Kenya conceded just twice in five matches but struggled to score freely, a factor that ultimately cost them at this stage.

For Madagascar, their fairytale journey continues. After a bronze-medal finish at CHAN 2022, the Barea have again shown their composure on the big stage.

Romuald Felix Rakotondrabe’s side, who topped a group featuring Morocco and DR Congo, demonstrated once more their ability to dig deep under pressure.

Their goalkeeper Ramandimbisoa, already one of the tournament’s standout performers, further enhanced his reputation with two crucial penalty saves.

What next

Madagascar now advances to the semi-finals, maintaining their reputation as giant-killers on the African stage.

Kenya, meanwhile, exited with their heads held high after igniting the nation’s passion in their first CHAN appearance.

The roar of Kasarani may have been silenced, but the Harambee Stars’ showing suggests this is only the beginning of a new chapter in Kenyan football.

-CAF

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