Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee for Youth & Sports has announced that Sports Minister Kofi Adams will soon update the media on the Black Stars’ budget for their recent World Cup qualifiersagainst Chad and Madagascar.
This statement comes after public concerns about the delay in disclosing the costs for these matches.
President John Mahama had earlier promised to make the budgets for national teams available to the public.
In an interview with Citi Sports, Norgbey assured the public that there was no need for worry.
“The sports minister is prepping to brief the media very soon on the Black Stars budget for the Chad and Madagascar games. I am not sure there should be any cause for alarm.”
Ghana achieved strong victories over Chad and Madagascar in March, providing a much-needed lift after recent struggles.
The Black Stars’ dominant 5-0 win against Chad and a 3-0 triumph over Madagascar have put them at the top of Group I with 15 points, leading Comoros by three points.
Ghana will return to World Cup qualifying action in June 2025, with matches against Chad and Mali.
Before that, they will compete in the 2025 Unity Cup in May, where they will face Nigeria, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) chairman, Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has applauded the Black Stars for their strong performances against Chad and Madagascar in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The team had a tough 2024, winning only two out of ten matches and missing out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). However, they have started 2025 in great form.
Ghana delivered a commanding 5-0 win over Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium in their fifth qualifier. They followed up with another solid display, defeating Madagascar 3-0 at the Al Hoceima Grand Stadium in Morocco on Monday night.
In an interview with Graphic Sports, Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe praised the team for their improvement, emphasizing their teamwork and discipline.
“The overall performance was better than what I’ve seen before,” the Hearts of Oak Board Member noted. “They demonstrated commitment and teamwork more than they used to. No player was trying to play to the gallery.”
With two consecutive wins, the Black Stars now lead Group I with 15 points.
Otto Addo’s team will continue their World Cup qualification campaign in September, playing against Chad away before taking on Mali at home in Matchdays 7 and 8.
Black Stars coach Otto Addo has confirmed that Benjamin Asare is now Ghana’s first-choice goalkeeper after his outstanding performances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Hearts of Oak goalkeeper impressed in the matches against Chad and Madagascar, keeping clean sheets in both games.
At 32 years old, Asare was called up for the qualifiers for the first time and took full advantage, replacing former number-one goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi.
Speaking to 3Sports after the game, Addo praised Asare’s performances and assured fans that he remains Ghana’s top goalkeeper.
“I think the next game is in June, and he is already the number one. We made that decision for him. He trained very well. We have a good atmosphere where the keepers are pushing each other,” Addo asserted.
The coach also acknowledged the healthy competition among goalkeepers, applauding Ati-Zigi and Joseph Wollacott for their professionalism and support.
“[I’m] very grateful to the way Ati-Zigi and Wollacott also behaved this week and the way they tried to probe Benjamin, help him, and guide him. I don’t take it for granted. Big credit to them. [Asare] was worth it. I’m glad for him.”
Asare was in goal for Ghana’s commanding 5-0 win against Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium and kept his position in the 3-0 victory over Madagascar at the Al Hoceima Grand Stadium in Morocco.
With these wins, the Black Stars now lead Group I and will shift their attention to the next round of qualifiers in September. Ghana will first play Chad away before hosting Mali in Matchday 7 and 8 of the campaign.
Ghana’s head coach, Otto Addo, believes playing Madagascar on neutral ground gives the Black Stars an advantage in their 2026 World Cup qualifier.
The important Matchday 6 clash will be held at Al Hoceima Grand Stadium in Morocco, kicking off at 19:00 GMT.
However, while Addo sees the neutral venue as a benefit, he also cautions his team to stay focused and avoid any mental lapses.
“Should be [an advantage for us]. Actually yes [it’s an advantage for us] because it’s always not that easy if you play away [from home] and there are a lot of spectators, but sometimes it’s also a trap, psychologically,” the 49-year-old told Ghana FA media.
“Sometimes if you think [that] it’s not going to be a hot atmosphere, it’s kind of a trap and you give maybe one or two per cent less, and for me… we have to be on our toes,” he added.
After a commanding 5-0 win over Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium last week, Ghana is looking to keep their strong form going against Madagascar.
The Black Stars are focused on qualifying for their fifth FIFA World Cup, which will take place next year in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Madagascar’s coach, Corentin Martins, says his team is training intensively for their important World Cup qualifier against Ghana.
He mentioned that the Barea are focusing on their best strategies to handle the challenge posed by the Black Stars.
Martins recognized Ghana’s strong form, especially after their impressive 5-0 win over Chad, with several key players from major European clubs.
Despite this, he emphasized that the result of this match won’t determine their World Cup qualification, as there are still more games ahead.
“We’re going to play our way. We’re going to try to annoy them [Black Stars] as much as possible. Ghana have great players who play in major European leagues.
“We have to play a similar kind of game to stand a chance of winning points from Ghana. This game is not decisive because there are four other games still to be played,” he said as reported by ghanasoccernet.com.
Madagascar enters the match with confidence after a solid 4-1 win over the Central African Republic.
The Black Stars will face Madagascar at the Mimoun Al Arsi Stadium in Morocco, which has a capacity of 12,000, on March 24, 2025.
Ghana leads Group I with 12 points, while Madagascar is right behind with 10 points.
Former Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah, has warned the team to brace for a tougher challenge against Madagascar compared to their recent match against Chad on March 21, 2025, at the Accra Sports Stadium.
He believes Madagascar will be a more difficult opponent due to their strong performances and talented squad.
The ex-Juventus midfielder urged the players to stay mentally prepared, stay focused, and give their full concentration throughout the game.
“The game you played against Chad is going to be different from the game you are going to play against Madagascar. They have a different style of play, and they will come with a different approach. So, you should tune your minds towards the game.
We are talking about the World Cup. Most of you were in Qatar. After the World Cup, you returned to your clubs, and you were different.
“We all experienced this in 2006. Even those who didn’t play, those who were on the bench, after the World Cup secured contracts in Europe. So, those of you playing in Europe, you are sacrificing for your colleagues playing in Ghana. We believe you can do it,” Appiah said while addressing the Black Stars players ahead of the Madagascar match.
The Black Stars will take on Madagascar at the 12,000-seat Mimoun Al Arsi Stadium in Al Hoceima, Morocco, on March 24, 2025. The match will be played on neutral ground.
After their dominant 5-0 victory over Chad, Ghana now tops Group I with 12 points, while Madagascar follows closely behind with 10 points.
Ghana’s coach, Otto Addo, has advised his players to remain focused and not underestimate their opponents as they get ready to play Madagascar in an important 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Monday.
Ghana currently leads Group I after defeating Chad, and another win against Madagascar could give them a five-point advantage. However, Addo has warned that this is not the time to become overconfident.
“It’s very, very important that we stay focused until we’ve made the job, and now it’s the whole focus about Madagascar,” he stressed as quoted by Ghana FA.
“We really, really want to win this match, we want to have a clean sheet, and this is what we’re looking for.”
Addo added that past results do not guarantee future success: “We could have won 10 games, and still we want to win the 11th. Statistics are good, but they don’t indicate that you will win or lose the next match.”
While Ghana has scored 11 goals in their last three matches, defensive lapses remain a concern.
“Football is a sport of mistakes, and who does more will lose. It’s very, very important that we have a positive mindset if we make a mistake,” Addo said.
Reflecting on the victory over Chad, the former Dortmund assistant coach said, “Everybody knew what this game was about, and I’m very, very happy that we used our chances especially in the first half, because this made the game easier in the second half.”
Now, his focus is on ensuring the team continues to push: “Nobody should take it easy, nobody should start thinking already about the World Cup because we need to take it step by step.”
Ghana’s Black Stars will take on Madagascar today in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, aiming to build momentum after their emphatic 5-0 victory over Chad last Friday, June 7, at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The Black Stars, who have struggled for consistency in recent months, delivered a dominant performance against Chad.
Originally set for Antananarivo, the game will now take place at the Grand Stade d’Al Hoceima in Al Hoceima on Monday, March 24, 2025, at19:00 hours (7:00 PM) GMT due to Madagascar’s national stadium not meeting approval standards.
A win against Madagascar today could further restore faith in the team and reshape public perception after months of disappointment.
With Ghana topping Group I after a win against Chad, a victory over Madagascar could see them open a five-point lead
Many Ghanaians were frustrated by the team’s poor performances in 2024, which saw them win just two out of 10 matches.
The Black Starswill be without twelve key players for their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar due to injuries, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has confirmed.
The sidelined players include Alidu Seidu, Tariq Lamptey, Brandon Thomas Asante, Abdul Mumin, Joseph Aidoo, Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Baba Idrissu, Ibrahim Sulemana, Daniel Kofi Kyereh, Majeed Ashimeru, and Joseph Paintsil.
The extent of their injuries varies, with several players still recovering or undergoing rehabilitation:
Alidu Seidu – ACL injury Tariq Lamptey – Ankle ligament injury Brandon Thomas Asante – Muscle tear Abdul Mumin – ACL injury Joseph Aidoo – Muscle injury Abdul Manaf Nurudeen – Ankle injury Abdul Fatawu Issahaku – Recovering from ACL injury Baba Idrissu – Undisclosed injury Ibrahim Sulemana – Adductor tendonitis Daniel Kofi Kyereh – Knee injury Majeed Ashimeru – Rebuilding fitness after injury layoff Joseph Paintsil – Quadriceps injury Despite these setbacks, Ghana is set to face Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday, March 21, 2025. They will then travel to Morocco to take on Madagascar in another Group I fixture on Monday, March 24, 2025.
The Black Stars will commence their training camp on Monday, March 17, 2025, as they prepare for these crucial qualifiers.
At least 24 people have lost their lives after two boats, mostly carrying Somali nationals, capsized off Madagascar’s coast, according to local authorities.
Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that efforts are ongoing to “ensure the safe return of the survivors.” A total of 70 passengers were aboard the two vessels.
The boats were found adrift off Madagascar’s northern coast on Saturday in the Indian Ocean, with engine failure suspected as the cause.
Local fishermen rescued the survivors, a senior Somalian government official informed the media.
The survivors revealed they were attempting to reach the French island of Mayotte, a dangerous route often taken by Somali migrants seeking asylum.
Driven by unemployment and poverty in the Horn of Africa, many young people embark on the perilous journey, hoping to reach Europe for a better future.
Authorities in Madagascar issued warnings about the “severe risks associated with illegal migration,” indicating that the victims were likely migrants.
A cyclone struck northern Madagascar on Wednesday, resulting in at least six fatalities and the displacement of 2,000 individuals from their homes.
Local sources indicate extensive flooding, causing substantial damage to roads and bridges.
The disaster management authority (BNGRC), cited by AFP news agency, reports a death toll of 11 from Cyclone Gamane. Of these, six drowned, while others were killed by falling trees or collapsing houses.
Gen Elack Andriakaja, BNGRC director-general, described the cyclone’s unusual stationary movement, stating, “It’s rare to have a cyclone like this.
Its movement is nearly stationary. When the system stops in one place, it devastates all the infrastructure. And that has serious consequences for the population.”
Madagascar’s occupant President Andry Rajoelina has won a third term, following a contested political race boycotted by the resistance and its allies.
He won 59% of the vote to overcome his two nearest matches, removed ex-President Marc Ravalomanana and Siteny Randriana Soloniaiko.
The political race recorded a citizen turnout of 46%, viewed as the most reduced in the island nation’s set of experiences.
The low turnout followed calls for survey blacklist by 10 official competitors.
They likewise pulled out their nominations over worries about the believability of the political decision and impugned President Rajoelina’s offered for a third term and the legitimacy of his bid, given his double French ethnicity.
The sacred court excused their requests to dissolve Mr Rajoelina’s office. He likewise excused the allegations and called them a political strategy.
Regardless of their withdrawal, the up-and-comers’ names remained on the voting form. Mr Randriana Soloniaiko acquired 14% of the vote and Mr Ravalomanana 12%.
The established court has nine days to affirm the outcomes reported on Saturday by Madagascar’s constituent body, Ceni.
The resistance aggregate that boycotted the political decision has proactively proclaimed that it won’t perceive the aftereffects of the 16 November survey.
There were a month and a half of exhibitions and conflicts with police in the development to the political race, provoking the burden of a check in time in Antananarivo just before the survey.
Mr Rajoelina, 49-year-old business visionary and previous DJ, won an official run-off vote against Mr Ravalomanana in 2018, after neither of them got over half of the vote as expected to be proclaimed president in the main round.
He had removed Mr Ravalomanana in a 2009 upset that was upheld by the military.
He faces the extreme errand of making position and working on the economy, in a nation where 75% of individuals reside underneath the neediness line, as per the World Bank.
He is likewise expected to carry political security to a country that has been shaken by long periods of political choppiness.
Madagascar’s current President, Andry Rajoelina, is winning by a lot in the election that happened last Thursday. Some parties refused to participate in the election. They have counted votes from 37% of the polling stations by Sunday evening.
President Rajoelina is winning with 62. 4%, followed by Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko with 12. 2% and former president Marc Ravalomanana with 11. 2%
Some people who dropped out of the presidential race say that fewer people voted because they told voters not to participate in the election.
“The elections in Madagascar didn’t meet the democratic standards because the participation rate was the lowest in the country’s history,” said opposition politician Hajo Andrianainarivelo after the vote on Thursday.
Before the election, there was a lot of confusion and disorder. 10 out of 12 opposition presidential candidates refused to participate in the election because they couldn’t stop Mr. Rajoelina from running for president due to his dual French citizenship.
Williams, who switched his allegiance from Spain to Ghana in 2022, made a significant impact in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
After scoring two goals in four matches at the2022 World Cup, he continued to showcase his talent in a crucial match against Madagascar on November 17, 2023.
The game was characterised by tight defences and limited chances for both teams. With the match seemingly heading for a goalless draw, Williams entered the game in the 85th minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXG0_iBwZZI
Utilising his speed and strength, he disrupted the Madagascar defence and created opportunities for his teammates.
In the 93rd minute, receiving a pass from Gideon Mensah, Williams unleashed a powerful free-header from outside the box that found the top corner of the net.
The late goal not only secured a dramatic 1-0 victory for Ghana but also earned them three crucial points in the Group I opener. Ghana is now tied with Mali, who also secured a victory in their first game against Comoros.
The upcoming match against Mali on November 21, 2023, holds significant importance as it could determine the group’s leader.
Williams’ celebration with teammates reflected the relief and joy of breaking the deadlock and contributing to Ghana’s successful start in the qualifiers.
Ghana will start the qualifying series for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, November 17, against Madagascar at the Baba Yara Stadium at 4pm.
This game is crucial for coach Chris Hughton to overcome a challenging month that has raised questions about his future.
This comes a month after disappointing performances against Mexico and the United States, but the Black Stars now have an opportunity to regain the support of Ghanaians.
This match marks the third meeting in the past year between Ghana and Madagascar, following their encounters in the qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ghana won the first game 3-0, with goals from Mohammed Kudus, Felix Afena-Gyan, and Osman Bukari. However, the return fixture in Madagascar ended in a goalless draw, and Ghana later secured qualification to the AFCON in Ivory Coast by topping the group.
Given the surprises in the second day of the African qualifiers for the World Cup, Hughton is aiming for a positive outcome against Madagascar to avoid a situation similar to Nigeria, who failed to win their first game against Lesotho at home.
Hughton emphasized the importance of the match in a press conference.
“I am very aware of how important these two games are. I know we have the AFCON tournament in January but at this moment all our concentration is on these two very important fixtures.”
“I know what they really mean to the members of the squad and for those that we work for,” he told the media.
Andre Ayew is set to make a return to Ghana’s squad after missing last month’s international break, although it remains uncertain whether the captain will secure a place in the starting lineup. The team faces a significant setback with the absence of Thomas Partey.
Coach Chris Hughton has the challenge of selecting players for the starting lineup, with Abdul Mumin and Kamaldeen Sulemana in excellent form. The addition of Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, performing well at Leicester City, provides additional options for the team.
Madagascar’s Tsiry Tokinantenaina and Jean Yves Razafindrakoto, both scorers in the previous match against Benin, are likely to retain their positions in the starting lineup for this fixture.
Madagascar is having a presidential vote even though the opposition is not participating because of protests.
A curfew was announced in the city at night to stop any problems.
There is a lot of disagreement in politics right now, and the opposition wants Andry Rajoelina to be removed from office.
There have been six weeks of protests, where people who disagree with the government have fought with the police.
Angelo Ravelonarivo, a police chief in the capital city of Antananarivo, said the curfew was put in place because of different acts of sabotage, like setting fire to a polling station.
Opposition leaders say Mr. Rajoelina is being unfairly supported and should not be allowed to run because he became a French citizen in 2014.
However, many people are standing in line at voting places in areas that are in favor of him and his party.
There were not many people at the polling stations in areas where the opposition is strong. There were only a few security guards in Antananarivo.
This happened when 10 out of 12 people running against each other in the election said they were worried the election might not be fair. They asked people not to vote in the election. Roland Ratsiraka, a candidate who was protesting, told the AFP news agency that the elections were a “fraud” and a “joke” for Madagascar.
Mr Rajoelina wants to be president for a third time. He said it’s against the law to stop people from voting.
He voted in Antananarivo’s north neighborhood Atmobe with his family.
A few people tried to stop others from voting freely. Rajoelina said that people can choose not to vote, but it’s important for everyone to vote.
Rija Ralijaona, a 26-year-old worker, said she thinks whoever wins should make less people without jobs and make more jobs for young people.
The country has a lot of cobalt, gold, nickel, uranium, and other minerals stored.
The next leader will need to help with lots of problems, like poverty.
Madagascar has about 30 million people, but only 11 million are allowed to vote.
Voting began at 6:00 in the morning and will end at 5:00 in the evening on Thursday.
Mr Rajoelina quit his job in September so he could try to be re-elected. He says he doesn’t agree with the complaints from other leaders and he is sure he will win again.
According to AFP, his government has said the protests are because people want to take over the power and ruin the election.
It has also said that the opposition is “making the country less stable. ”
At first, the Senate president was supposed to replace Mr. Rajoelina, but he said no. This left the decision to a group of government leaders led by the prime minister, who is considered a friend of Rajoelina.
Many people are mad that Mr. Rajoelina can run for office because he has French citizenship as well as Malagasy citizenship, even though the Constitutional Court said it’s okay.
After becoming a leader in 2009, Mr Rajoelina became the youngest leader in Africa.
He did not run in the election in 2013, but he was elected again in 2018.
Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, has been placed under a nighttime curfew in anticipation of this Thursday’s presidential election, which the majority of opposition candidates have called a fraud and are refusing to participate in.
With multiple opposition protests being broken up by the police, the nation has been in a highly anxious state.
The curfew, according to the chief of police in Antananarivo, was required following what he described as acts of sabotage, which included the burning of a polling place.
Ten of the twelve opposition candidates, including President Andry Rajoelina, have advised their supporters not to cast ballots, casting doubt on the validity of the poll.
The Black Stars have landed in Kumasi and are set to conduct their training session at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium later on Tuesday, gearing up for the FIFA World Cup qualifier against Madagascar.
Having commenced camp on Monday, the team made the move to the Ashanti regional capital on Tuesday morning. A total of 24 players are currently in camp, aiming for a strong start to the qualification process.
Goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi is the only absentee, with his expected arrival on Wednesday. Under the management of Chris Hughton, the team plans to conduct three training sessions in Kumasi before facing Madagascar on Friday, November 17, 2023. Subsequently, Ghana will travel to Moroni for the match against Comoros on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.
The players in camp include: Richard Ofori, Joseph Wollacott, Alidu Seidu, Denis Odoi, Gideon Mensah, Abdul Fatawu Hamid, Daniel Amartey, Kasim Nuhu, Nicholas Opoku, Nurudeen Abdulai, Baba Idrissu, Majeed Ashimeru, Abdul Samed Salis, Edmund Addo, Mohammed Kudus, Andre Ayew, Osman Bukari, Joseph Painstil, Ernest Nuamah, Jordan Ayew, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, Inaki Williams, Antoine Semenyo, Jonathan Sowah.
Defender Abdul Mumin and winger Kamaldeen Sulemana have withdrawn from the Black Stars squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Madagascar and Comoros this month.
Initially named in Chris Hughton’s 25-man squad for the two games, the duo was expected to report to camp on Monday, November 13.
However, a late injury to Mumin, the Rayo Vallecano centre-back, has ruled him out of the matches scheduled for Friday, November 17, and Tuesday, November 21.
Mumin, who received his first Black Stars call-up under Hughton, will have to wait for another opportunity to join the Irish gaffer’s team due to the injury setback.
Kamaldeen, who also missed the friendly games against Mexico and the United States of America last month, will once again be absent for the opening games of the qualifiers.
The void left by the injured players has been filled by Medeama Sporting Club’s Nurudeen Abdulai and Leicester City’s Abdul Fatawu Issahaku.
The Black Stars commenced their training camp on Monday, November 13, in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Madagascar and Comoros. Over 20 players joined the camp on the first day, led by captain Andre Ayew.
Last week Thursday, Chris Hughton announced a 25-man squad for the upcoming matches, with Ayew returning to the team after missing the October international break.
However, Southampton forward Kamaldeen Sulemana and Rayo Vallecano defender Abdul Mumin have withdrawn from the squad, with Abdul Fatawu Issahaku and Nurudeen Abdulai named as their replacements.
The team is scheduled to travel to Kumasi on Tuesday morning and will undergo training later in the day.
Police have arrested an opposition presidential candidate during a protest in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo.
Jean Jacques Ratsietison was seen being detained by law enforcement officers.
The opposition claims that the upcoming election this month is being manipulated to favor the incumbent, Andry Rajoelina. However, the electoral commission has yet to respond to these allegations.
In recent times, several efforts to organize protests have been disrupted by the police.
Political tensions in Madagascar have escalated, with incidents last month resulting in injuries to two candidates, including former President Marc Ravalomanana, during opposition demonstrations.
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina said he plans to run for president again in November. Some people are trying to stop him from participating in the election, but he will still go ahead with his campaign.
In June of this year, secret documents showed that Mr. Rajoelina, his wife, and children became French citizens in 2014.
After the news came out, some leaders and people from Madagascar started doubting his honesty and loyalty to their country. Madagascar used to be a French colony until 1960.
Critics also say that in this country, having citizenship in two countries is not allowed. If someone gets citizenship in another country, they lose their citizenship in this country and cannot run for president.
However Mr Rajoelina, who became the president after winning the election in late 2018, disagrees with this and says that the constitution does not prevent people with dual citizenship from running for presidency.
Over 20 people are participating in the elections that will take place on November 9th on an island in the Indian Ocean.
The chief of staff for the president of Madagascar has been accused of asking a gem mining company for a bribe in the UK.
Romy Andrianarisoa and a companion are accused of offering permits in Madagascar for about £225,000 to the British company Gemfields.
She and her friend Philippe Tabuteau are accused of asking for, consenting to receive, or taking a bribe.
After a brief court hearing on Saturday, both were ordered to remain in detention.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has accused Ms. Andrianarisoa, 46, and Mr. Tabuteau, a 54-year-old French national, of attempting to get a 5% ownership stake in any initiatives undertaken by Gemfields Madagascar.
According to the agency, the two were detained on Thursday afternoon in central London’s Victoria neighbourhood at a meeting when they were allegedly trying to solicit bribes.
Head of the NCA’s international corruption division Andy Kelly stated: “I am grateful to Gemfields for bringing this matter to our attention and for their ongoing cooperation with the investigation.”
Ms. Andrianarisoa and Mr. Tabuteau were both remanded in custody after their court appearance on Saturday and are scheduled to return on September 8 at Southwark Crown Court.
The alleged crimes’ licences were not identified by the NCA
Tanzanian club Young Africans has officially unveiled Ghanaian forward Hafiz Konkoni after successfully completing the transfer.
In a well-crafted video shared on Twitter on July 29, 2023, Yanga announced the signing of the talented striker, prompting a warm welcome from their fans in the comments section.
The young and promising forward has signed a two-year contract with the Yellow and Greens, which will keep him at the club until 2025.
Konkoni’s impressive performance in the Ghana Premier League last season caught the attention of many, and he has now made the move from Bechem United to Young Africans.
Several other Ghanaian clubs, including Accra Hearts of Oak, were rumored to be interested in acquiring the striker’s services, but it was Young Africans who secured his signature.
Having earned his debut call-up to the Ghanaian national team, the Black Stars, in May for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar, Hafiz Konkoni’s talent and potential have been recognized on both domestic and international levels.
With his impressive track record of scoring 15 goals in the league last season, Yanga hopes that Konkoni will be the solution to their striker difficulties as they begin their journey with him in the squad.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is starting to come together as 14 teams have secured their spots in the tournament during the June international window.
With 14 places already confirmed, there are 10 more slots to be filled, which could happen during the September window.
Notably, Zambia, led by a former head coach of the Black Stars, will be making their comeback to the continental stage after their last appearance in the 2015 edition of the tournament.
From Group A, Nigeria booked their ticket to the tournament following their 3-2 away win over Sierra Leone on Sunday, June 18, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen scoring a brace in the game.
Burkina Faso and Cape Verde will also be at the continental showpiece next year with both teams on 10 points each heading into the last round of qualifiers. The latter’s qualification comes following a 3-1 home win over Burkina Faso in Group B.
Group C is still open with Namibia and Cameroon fighting for the two slots available.
Egypt will also be on the plane to Cote D’Ivoire after their 2-1 win away from home over Guinea at home on Sunday evening while Guinea’s qualification is yet to be confirmed.
The slots in Group E are still open with Ghana, Angola and Central African Republic all eligible to book spots at the 2023 AFCON depending on the outcome of the last round of qualifiers.
The Black Stars failed to secure an early qualification to the tournament following a disappointing draw against Madagascar while Angola beat CAR to keep qualification hopes alive.
Algeria and Senegal are also part of the 14 teams to have confirmed their places at the next edition of the continental showpiece.
Here is a full list of teams that have booked their slots at the 2023 AFCON:
In the final game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification series, the Black Stars and Islands drew 0-0 on Sunday, June 18.
The Black Stars’ inability to score even one goal, according to Coach Chris Hughton, is the most discouraging aspect of the game.
“We are very disappointed. We came here with the attitude and mindset to win. To win a football match you need to score goals. We found it difficult. We needed to be more forceful to create more opportunities to score.
“The fact that we didn’t score is the most disappointing thing,” Black Stars head coach Chris Hughton said in his post-match interview.
The draw today means Ghana’s qualification to the 2023 AFCON has been delayed.
Before to the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar, Black Stars coach Chris Hughton spoke candidly about the worsening injury issue in the team’s training camp.
After getting hurt during Auxerre’s final game of the season, defender Gideon Mensah was the most recent player to leave the team.
He is one of three players who will not compete in the last AFCON qualifier, along with Alexander Djiku of RC Strasbourg and striker Inaki Williams of Athletic Bilbao.
Hughton earlier replaced Williams and Djiku with Ransford-Yeboah Konigsdorffer and Kasim Adams respectively, but will travel without cover for Mensah.
“It’s an opportunity for somebody else. This is an international team. There is no absolute standout first 11.
Whatever the squad is, whether 24 or 25, the players, they are all pushing to start,” he said at a presser on Tuesday, as quoted by Ghanasoccernet.
The Black Stars will continue preparations on Wednesday before the team leaves for Antananarivo on Friday for the game on June 18.
The four-time African champions need at least a point to secure their place at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast next year.
Mensah suffers injury blow
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the Black Stars have been hit with another injury blow after defender Gideon Mensah pulled out of the squad for the upcoming game against Madagascar.
Forward Inaki Williams and defender Alexander Djiku were withdrawn from the squad due to injuries.
Mensah’s injury means the Black Stars have only one left-back for the trip to Antananarivo to face Madagascar in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Black Stars hold first training
The Black Stars of Ghana held their first training session in Accra on Monday ahead of the penultimate Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar.
Twenty-three out of the twenty-five players who reported to camp participated in full training as the players warmed themselves up ahead of Sunday’s game in Antananarivo.
Thomas Partey and Gideon Mensah were the only players who did not take part in training, and are expected to join the rest of the team on Tuesday as preparations continue.
The Black Stars players have reported for their training camp in preparation for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar.
Pictures shared on social media by the official Black Stars handle depict the players arriving at the team hotel, dressed in casual attire.
As of now, the Ghana Football Association has not confirmed the exact number of players who have arrived out of the 24-man squad that was announced for the national team.
However, from the images posted on social media, skipper Andre Ayew, Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Salis Samed, Kasim Nuhu, Majeed Ashimeru, Osman Buakri, Hafiz Konkoni, and Joseph Aidoo, Gideon Mensah, Joseph Paintsil have all arrived.
The team is currently lodging at the Alisa Hotel and will train at the Accra Sports Stadium before they departGhana for Madagascar.
The game is scheduled for June 18, 2023.
Players in photos:
Black Stars Capt.Andre Dede Ayew arrives at campAte Zigi is here Jordan Ayew steps out of carSaliz abdul Samed Joseph PaintsilHafiz Konkoni
In preparation for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Madagascar, Chris Hughton, the head coach of the Black Stars, has made a substitution in the squad due to an injury.
Kasim Adams has been called up to replace Alexander Djiku, who had initially been named in the Ghana squad but had to withdraw due to an ankle injury.
The Hoffenheim center-back, who had a great campaign on loan at Swiss side, FC Basel, in the just-ended season comes in with loads of experience.
The 27-year-old has 11 appearances for Ghana since his debut in 2017.
Adams has featured 28 times for Basel in the Swiss Super League, scoring a goal and provided one assist.
He has also played 11 times in the UEFA Europa Conference League, scoring an extra-time winner against Nice that sent them to the semifinal. Overall, he has 46 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals, with one assist.
The Black Stars will begin camping in Accra on Monday, June 12 to commence preparations for the Madagascar qualifier scheduled to be played in Antananarivo on Sunday, July 18, 2023.
Ernest Nuamah, a promising young forward, has received his first call-up to the Ghana national team, known as the Black Stars, for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar in June.
National coach Chris Hughton has included the winger in the 24-man squad for the crucial match in Antananarivo on June 18.
Nuamah, who has been in outstanding form for FC Nordsjaelland in the Danish Superliga, has caught the attention of the coaching staff, leading to his inclusion in the Black Stars team.
The talented player has been a standout performer for the Ghana U23 team, which has further boosted his chances of making it to the senior national team.
In addition to Nuamah, the squad list released on the official Ghana FA website also features the return of Alidu Seidu from Clermont Foot and Kwasi Okyere Wriedt from Holstein Kiel.
Mohammed Salisu and Tariq Lamptey have not been included in the squad due to their respective injuries while Kamal Sowah was seemingly not invited.
Captain, Andre Ayew and his brother, Jordan Ayew are also part of the team alongside Arsenal’s Thomas Partey.
In-form Inaki Williams will be hoping to break his goal-scoring duck with the national team, exactly a year after announcing his nationality switch.
The four-time African champions need one point to secure qualification to the tournament in Ivory Coast next year.
Ghana’s national football team, the Black Stars, will be led by head coach Chris Hughton in their upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations Qualifier against Madagascar.
Hughton has announced a 24-man squad comprising 3 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 5 midfielders, 4 wingers, and 4 strikers.
The squad sees the return of defender Alidu Seidu and forward Kwasi Okyere Wreidt, while Ernest Nuamah has received his first-ever call-up to the national team, marking his debut in the squad.
Injured players, Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Salisu, Tariq Lamptey and Daniel Kofi Kyereh were left out of the squad.
No local player was named in the squad by coach Chris Hughton.
Black Stars coach, Chris Hughton and Ghanaian player, Edmund Addo
The Black Stars of Ghana will take on Madagascar on June 18, 2023, at 17:00 GMT. The game will take place at the Stade Kianja Barea in Antananarivo.
Below is the squad list;
Goalkeepers: Lawrence Ati-Zigi (St. Gallen), Joseph Wollacott (Charlton Athletic), Abdul Manaf Nurudeen (KAS Eupen)
Defenders: Denis Odoi (Club Brugge), Alidu Seidu (Clermont Foot), Gideon Mensah (Auxerre), Patrick Kpozo (Sheriff Tiraspol), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Joseph Aidoo (Celta Vigo), Alexander Djiku (Strasbourg), Nicholas Opoku (Amiens)
Midfielders: Thomas Partey (Arsenal FC),Mohammed Kudus (Ajax Amsterdam), Majeed Ashimeru (Anderlecht), Salis Abdul Samed (Lens), Edmund Addo (Spartak Subotica)
Wingers: Joseph Painstil (Genk), Osman Bukari (Red Star Belgrade), KamalDeen Sulemana (Southampton), Ernest Nuamah (FC Nordsjaelland)
Attackers: Andre Ayew (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace), Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Kwasi Okyere Wriedt (Holstein Kiel).
According to authorities in Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar, the number of fatalities caused by the unusually long-lasting Tropical Storm Freddy in southeast Africa has increased to 522.
The number of fatalities increased to 438 on Saturday, according to the disaster management officials in Malawi, the country that was most severely affected by the cyclone. Lazarus Chakwera, the president of Malawi, announced a 14-day period of national mourning on Thursday.
There are hundreds of evacuation centers set up across the nation for survivors, with 345,000 people impacted by the severe rains, floods, and landslides, and tens of thousands of people left homeless in Malawi.
The cyclone left a trail of devastation in southeast Africa. Neighbouring Mozambique and the island nation of Madagascar have also been affected.
In Mozambique, at least 67 people died, according to President Filipe Nyusi, with 50,000 more displaced.
It is expected that the death toll in both nations will continue to climb. At least 17 people were killed in the island nation of Madagascar.
Cyclone Freddy dissipated over land late Wednesday after it made a second landfall in Mozambique and then Malawi over the weekend and caused mass devastation in several regions, including Malawi’s financial capital, Blantyre.
Some of the Cyclone Freddy survivors at a camp in Blantyre, Malawi [Rabson Kondowe/Al Jazeera]
Reporting from Makanga, an island in Malawi, Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller said that while rescue services were continuing, they have been slow to transport people from flooded islands to the mainland.
“So far, they [the police services] have reached about 1,300 people, but hundreds more are waiting. They have had to seek refuge in trees. Their homes have been washed away and they also don’t have any food,” said Miller.
“It will certainly be at least a few more days before a bigger dent is made in terms of rescuing people in places like this, which have been very difficult to reach up until now,” she added.
Freddy first made landfall on February 21 in Madagascar. From there, the storm moved on to Mozambique and then back across the Indian Ocean. On March 11, it reached Mozambique for the second time and then moved on to Malawi.
“A lot of areas are inaccessible, restricting movement of assessment and humanitarian teams and life-saving supplies,” said Paul Turnbull, the World Food Program’s director in Malawi. “The true extent of the damage will only be revealed once assessments have been concluded.”
Before the hurricane hit, there was a cholera outbreak in both countries, and there are worries that the floods would worsen the spread of water-borne illnesses. Early in the year, floods and Freddy’s initial battering both affected Mozambique.
According to scientists, cyclone activity has gotten worse due to human-caused climate change, becoming wetter, more intense, and more frequent.
Since it devastated Mozambique, Madagascar, and Réunion in late February, Cyclone Freddy has wreaked havoc throughout southern Africa. Then, after regaining strength across the Mozambique Channel, it looped back onto shore.
The World Meteorological Organization has convened an expert panel to determine whether Cyclone Freddy has broken the record for the longest-ever cyclone in recorded history.
Southern Africa is currently in cyclone season, which can bring rain and severe storms until March or April.
The powerful gusts of wind reached around 130 kilometres per hour; contrary to last year’s cyclone Batsirai, cyclone Freddy did not bring as much rain as expected.
Freddy is the first cyclone and the second tropical weather system to hit Madagascar during the current season according to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
After Madagascar, the cyclone is now heading to Mozambique and Zimbabwe on the African mainland.
Last year’s Cyclone Batsirai killed more than 130 people across Madagascar.
At least 16 people have died in Madagascar as a result of a tropical cyclone and subsequent severe rains, according to emergency officials.
Seventeen prople remain missing after Tropical Storm Cheneso hit, according to the Office for Risk and Disaster Management.
More than 60,000 people have been displaced since the storm reached the island just over a week ago.
Some 47,000 people are affected, while 13,000 houses and some 100 classrooms are damaged, the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations said
Madagascar, Mozambique and the wider southern Africa region have been hit by severe storms and cyclones in recent years.
Last year, several storms in the region killed more than 100 people and displaced hundreds of thousands others.
The roadways connecting Mahajanga’s many districts to Antananarivo, the country of Madagascar’s capital, have also been inundated. More than 15,000 people have been affected by Cyclone Cheneso, which is still affecting the island.
“I left my house because it was destroyed by the strong winds of the cyclone. The house tilted, so I ran away. My house was totally destroyed,” said flood victim Bonne Fehy.
“All our things got wet, but we had put them up high. I am disabled, so some young people took me, and that’s how I escaped. They carried me in a tricycle,” said Perline Razanamalala, another flood victim.
In addition to the floods, the National Office of Risk and Disaster Management has recorded numerous landslides and landslides.
Olga Rasoanirina, director of the Boeny region, Ministry of Population and Social Affairs said “we have housed people since Sunday when there were big storms. We have housed people in this site, which is a public elementary school in the neighborhood, we have set up shelters for the victims and we have also distributed meals.”
The latest official death toll is four, 14 missing and more than 8,000 affected.
Authoritiesin Madagascar have started works on the country’s first motorway linking the capital, Antananarivo, to Tamatave, the country’s economic hub and largest port.
Egyptian company Samcrete will be in charge of the 4-year project for a budget of nearly $1 billion.
“The highway will allow us to relieve the congestion of the national road number 2 because in fact it is estimated that the traffic will be multiplied by 5 in the next three years. So it will be unbearable for the national road number 2 to handle this extra traffic”, said Public Works Minister of Madagascar, Jerry Hatrefindrazana.
The project has sparked controversy amongst the population. Farmers are one group particularly affected.
“We are in the middle of the rice transplanting period, right at the moment when our rice fields will be destroyed. And we have been waiting for the state to take action for us farmers. In all the speeches, no official spoke about the farmers“, complained farmer Roland Edie Rakotodramasy.
Others, like teacher Pauline Ramialisoa, remain convinced about the overall benefits.
“Traffic will be faster, cars will not use much gasoline, and the transport of goods from inside and outside will be more fluid”, she said
One of the Egyptian companies involved in the project, EGAAD, stressed the environmental advantages of the new infrastructure.
“This highway that will link the capital to the main port, the economic hub of the country, will ease a lot of things, reducing an 11-hour journey to a 2.5-hour journey. It will help to reduce CO2 emissions by 25 to 30%”, claims EGAAD group president, Reda Boulos.
The first stage of the project is scheduled to be completed by the end of the president’s mandate in 2023.
Researchers studying a rare Madagascar lemur have observed the nocturnal creature picking its nose and eating mucus.
The Aye Aye, a cat-sized primate that lives in the forests of the Indian Ocean island, was known to hunt for insect grubs in hollow logs with its unusually long middle finger.
But for the first time, it’s been recorded sticking its finger up its nose and then licking it clean.
Similar behaviour has been seen in other primates, including humans, prompting scientists to suspect the unpalatable activity could have health benefits.
It’s thought nasal mucus may contain proteins beneficial to an animal’s immune system.
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has sacked all his ministers, his office said, days after he criticised some of their performances as below par and weeks after officials said they had thwarted a plot to kill the former coup leader.
Rajoelina‘s office gave no reason for the dismissals in a statement issued late on Wednesday.
On Sunday, Rajoelina said the performance of some ministers was unsatisfactory.
“Like in a football team, you have to change when there are failures in government,” he said in comments broadcast on national television.
“There will be a change and this concerns those who do not carry out the work entrusted to them.”
Last week, a senior prosecutor said Madagascar had arrested 21 more suspects, including 12 military personnel, in connection with a plot to kill Rajoelina and topple the government.
Six people, one of them a French citizen, were arrested last month on suspicion of involvement in the plot, after what officials said was a months-long investigation in the Indian Ocean island.
Madagascar, an impoverished former French colony of 26 million, has a history of political violence and instability. Rajoelina, 44, was sworn in as president in 2019 after a hotly contested election and a constitutional court challenge from his rival.
Rajoelina first took power in a March 2009 coup, unseating Marc Ravalomanana. He remained in control at the head of a transitional government until 2014.
In the 2019 elections, Ravalomanana challenged Rajoelina, lost, and said the vote was fraudulent.
Madagascar on Monday rolled out its Covid-19 vaccination campaign. Health Minister Jean Louis Hanitrala Rakotovao was among the first to be inoculated in the capital, Antananarivo.
The Indian Ocean island nation received its first shipment of 250,000 AstraZeneca jabs on Saturday.
They followed a surge in infections which saw some schools and community centers transformed into treatment facilities.
“I’ll be back for the second dose, I’m already ready for it. I encourage people to get vaccinated because it is good to fight against the coronavirus. Many people are infected and have died from this disease,” said Hanitra Lovasoa Rasoarimalala, a civil servant after being vaccinated.
President Andry Rajoelina has been criticized for his handling of the pandemic.
Until recently, he had been promoting a herbal concoction as a cure for the virus prompting a warning from the WHO.
“Our message is that people should be vaccinated. But it is voluntary,” said Issa Sanogo, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Madagascar
“We can’t force anyone. The president is part of the population, so it is his right to accept or not to accept to be vaccinated, but vaccination is available for everyone,” Sanogo added.
Madagascar has registered 38,874 infections, including at least 716 deaths.
Last month, President Rajoelina said the Sinopharm, Pfizer, and Covishield vaccines would also be used in the country’s vaccination drive.
Madagascar’s former president Didier Ratsiraka, a naval officer nicknamed the “Red Admiral” for his socialist policies, died on Sunday morning aged 84, current head of state Andry Rajoelina announced on Twitter.
Ratsiraka, who was hospitalized earlier this week with a flu, was president of the Indian Ocean island from 1975 to 1991 and again from 1997 to 2002.
“The Malagasy have lost an illustrious patriot,” Rajoelina said.
The instigator of the “Malagasy socialist revolution”, which turned out to be an economic and social failure, this anti-colonial activist and “comrade” of Fidel Castro, left a legacy of “Malagachisation” of education and the names of towns.
A protest movement between 1991 and 1992 forced him to leave power and accept the liberal transition demanded by his opponent at the time, Albert Zafy, who succeeded him at the head of state.
The “Red Admiral” regained power in 1997 but was once again ousted after the following presidential election.
After a contested election, demonstrations and armed clashes broke out from December 2001 to July 2002 in the streets of the country, between the supporters of Didier Ratsiraka and those of his new opponent, the mayor of Antananarivo, Marc Ravalomanana.
Mr Ravalomanana was finally declared the winner and Didier Ratsiraka was forced into exile in France for nine years.
In 2003, the deposed president was sentenced in absentia to ten years of hard labour for “embezzlement of public funds” and then to five years in prison for undermining state security. However, his sentences were overturned in 2009.
For the past ten years, he has been present on the Malagasy political scene, regularly invited on television to deliver his analyses.
Deeply saddened to hear about the passing away of the former President Didier Ratsiraka today morning. His immense contribution to strengthening India-Madagascar relations will be fondly remembered. My deepest condolences to his family, the people and Govt. of Madagascar. pic.twitter.com/NcRpLJCvOY
The Madagascan government announced on Sunday, the end of the state of health emergency which was introduced due to the (COVID-19) pandemic.
According to president Andry Rajoelina, the country had a 96% recovery rate.
He attributed the recovery to some of the measures taken like the distribution of more than seven million doses of Covid-Organics distributed free of charge throughout the island.
Despite lifting the state of emergency, the reopening of the country’s borders which was scheduled for October 29 has been postponed due to the increase in cases in other countries.
Nosy Be airport will remain open to countries not suffering from a second wave of the pandemic while International flights to mainland Madagascar remain completely suspended,
As of Monday, October 19 Madagascar recorded 238 deaths out of over 16,000 confirmed cases.
Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina has lifted a curfew imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The president announced that sporting activities would be allowed but with an audience of not more than 200 people.
Passengers boarding domestic flights will be required to take a coronavirus test 48 hours before departure and will only be allowed to board if the test is negative.
Only one airport was cleared for international flights beginning this month with strict guidelines in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Mask wearing and social distancing are still mandatory across the country.
Madagascar recorded a spike in virus cases in July forcing the government to reintroduce a lockdown in the capital, Antananarivo.
President Rajoelina had promoted a herbal tonic that he said cured Covid-19 but the World Health Organization has maintained that there is no cure for the disease.
The tonic is now being manufactured in tablets and continues to be distributed in the country.
Ghana is set to play Madagascar in a second international friendly next month after Equatorial Guinea pulled out last week.
The Black Stars were supposed to face the Nzalang Nacional on 12 October in Turkey but latter pulled out after new travelling restrictions were imposed in the country.
The Ghana Football Association are in advanced negotiations with Madagascar to replace Equatorial Guinea on 12 or 13 October in Antalya, Turkey.
Ghana will first play Mali on 9 October at the same venue in Turkey before facing Madagascar three or four days later.
This will be second time the Black Stars and the Barea will face each other in a football encounter.
The last meeting was in 2003 during a Four Nations Tournament in Tunisia where they drew 3-3.
Eleven out of 31 prisoners who escaped from a facility in the south-east of Madagascar on Sunday have been recaptured, police say.
The police and army were deployed to Farafanga prison when dozens of prisoners turned against guards with rocks and a stolen gun.
The police opened fire, killing 20 inmates.
The justice ministry said 19 prisoners were still at large.
Mass prison escapes are not uncommon in Madagascar. In 2016 around 40 detainees broke out from a high-security prison in Toliary in the south of the country.
People are often held for years in prison in Madagascar as they await trial, rights groups say.
Madagascar on Thursday said it had fired its health minister as part of a government reshuffle, a move that came a month after he butted heads with the president for seeking outside help for coronavirus.
The Indian Ocean island-nation saw COVID-19 cases surge in July despite an official campaign to promote a controversial herbal drink touted as a remedy for the virus.
As hospitals raised concern about lack of beds, Health Minister Ahmad Ahmad wrote a letter in July asking international agencies to send medical equipment.
His appeal sparked anger in President Andry Rajoelina’s administration, which said Ahmad had acted “without consulting” either the government or head of state.
Ahmad’s cabinet exit was revealed on Thursday in the announcement of a new list of ministers following a reshuffle.
“Jean Louis Hanitrala Rakotovao has been named new health minister,” cabinet secretary Valery Ramonjavelo told a press conference, without giving details about the change.
Rajoelina has been promoting an infusion derived from artemisia, a plant with proven anti-malarial properties, as a homegrown cure for COVID-19.
The drink, named COVID-Organics, has been widely distributed in Madagascar and sold to several other countries, mainly in Africa.
The UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that there have been no published scientific studies to validate claims for the drink, and mainstream scientists have pointed to potential risks from untested concoctions.
Rajoelina has ignored the warnings and blamed a jump in cases last month on “increased testing capacity”.
Madagascar’s coronavirus outbreak seems to have slowed since then, with new daily confirmed cases dropping from peaks of over 400 in July to an average of around 80 since Monday.
To date the country has recorded more than 14,000 infections, of which 177 deaths have been fatal.
Madagascar’s health ministry has sent out an urgent request for help to partner agencies and health institutions as Covid-19 cases increase.
“The Ministry of Health indicated that the Covid-19 epidemic has in recent weeks evolved in a very critical fashion in Madagascar with significant outbreaks in some regions, particularly the capital, Antananarivo,” the Actu Orange website reports.
There have been reports that public hospitals in Madagascar are at full capacity and will only admit severe cases of Covid-19.
The island nation currently has about 7,000 Covid-19 cases.
President Andry Rajoelina early this month reimposed a lockdown on the capital following a rise in cases.
In April, he launched a herbal “remedy” for Covid-19 that was widely distributed in the country. Several consignments of Covid-Organics were also sent to dozens of African countries.
However, the efficacy of the herbal tonic has been discredited by health professionals in Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo, after clinical analysis.
Two Malagasy lawmakers, one member of the senate and one deputy, have died after contracting coronavirus, President Andry Rajoelina is reported to have announced on Sunday.
Mr Rajoelina also said 11 other deputies and 14 senators had also tested positive for the virus, the AFP news agency reports.
The government had last week placed one of its main regions, which covers the capital, Antananarivo, back under a strict lockdown following a surge in coronavirus infections.
The lockdown was meant to slow the spread of the virus, authorities explained.
There are 4,578 confirmed cases, and 34 people have died since the virus was first detected on the island in March, according to the World Health Organization.
Madagascar on Sunday announced the first death of a patient suffering from the novel coronavirus, nearly two months after it was first detected in the country.
The 57-year-old hospital worker died on Saturday and had underlying diabetes and high blood pressure before he was infected, an official from the anti-coronavirus task team said.
“It is with great sadness that we have to share with all our compatriots, that there is an individual, aged 57, who died from Covid-19,†professor Hanta Vololontiana said on public television.
He was a car park attendant at a hospital in the eastern city of Toamasina.
The Indian Ocean island which has reported 304 cases has hit the headlines over a home-grown herbal concoction that President Andry Rajoelina claims can cure people infected with the virus.
Several African countries have ordered or expressed interest in the purported remedy, which is known as Covid-Organics.
The tonic drink is derived from artemisia — a plant with proven efficacy in malaria treatment — and other indigenous herbs.
But the World Health Organization has warned against “adopting a product that has not been taken through tests to see its efficacyâ€.
![Some of the Cyclone Freddy survivors at a camp in Blantyre, Malawi [Rabson Kondowe/Al Jazeera]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Some-of-the-survivors-at-a-camp-in-Blantyre.-photo-by-Rabson.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C578&quality=80)
