On 16 October 2018, Madagascar qualified to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history, after they won 1–0 against Equatorial Guinea.
[1][2] During their debut match against Guinea on 22 June 2019,[3] Anicet Abel scored Madagascar's first-ever AFCON goal and secured their first point of the competition with a 2–2 draw against Guinea.
[4][5] The team defeated Burundi in their second match[6] and followed it up with a 2–0 victory over the Super Eagles of Nigeria to top Group B.
[7][8] Then Madagascar advanced to quarter-finals after beating DR Congo in the round of 16.
[10] However, Madagascar's dream ended abruptly after suffering a 0–3 defeat at the hand of another former champion, Tunisia.