The world of soccer fascinates. Beyond the game that is played on a pitch are placed people, board members who direct the destiny of this global sport.

The Barea fairy tale in 2019 which illuminated the 25 million Malagasy people, and which continued to put the entire population on their feet, without wanting to take away the merit of the players and coaches, was also set up behind the scenes. It is undeniably the result of good governance, a vision and plans put in place a decade or more before.

Ahmad – President of the Malagasy Federation of Football (FMF) from 2003 to 2017, then member of the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) from 2013 to 2017, and finally President of this continental body from 2017 to 2021 and Vice-President of FIFA during this same period – always wanted to put Madagascar and its football at the highest level possible. In his mission, members of the FMF Executive Committee who are as competent as they are influential in their respective fields accompanied him.

During the last 8 year, while Ahmad was sitting in the Board of CAF, Madagascar has experienced historic results: African beach soccer champion in 2015, first participation in a FIFA competition (Beach soccer World Cup) in Portugal in 2015, first participation in an AFCON in 2019, then ascension to the quarterfinals of the competition. Referees are booming and women's soccer is valued, to name just a few points. The facts speak for themselves. These performances were anything but a coincidence.

Dr. Raoul Arizaka Rabekoto, former Vice-President of the FMF and currently at the head of the latter, was also part of the Soccer Board in Madagascar, which has propelled local football to a high level, in particular through the generous but crucial involvement of the CNaPS, which he led at the time. Nathalie Rabe, a former Minister and the first female Director at CAF, or the former members of the Madagascar government Cyrille Reboza and Neypatraiky Rakotomamonjy, were also part of this visionary and highly experienced team. There was a strong team behind Ahmad since almost ten years and who have contributed their expertise on how to apply a coherent governance strategy that is appropriate to the reality of the country. Rewarded, we have said it, by tangible results and performances.

However, today, all of this seems to be behind us. No Malagasy national will be sit on the Board of CAF for the first time in eight years. Besides, among the superb team behind Ahmad especially during his last two terms at the head of the FMF, only two remain active in the world of football: Dr Raoul Rabekoto, and Aurélien Andriamalazaony, CAF Security Officer and Advisor of the local national soccer league called “Orange Pro League”.

The end of an era is approaching if it is not already recorded. But, who will succeed with all the pressure that this generates?

Currently, young people in Madagascar are gradually starting to get involved in management or even sports governance. Sports entities are beginning to "rejuvenate", including the federation, the clubs, and the Orange Pro League whose executive team is exceptionally young. In clubs in particular, administration and even coaching are entrusted to young people. Even the national coach also hired young assistants. Youth contribution tends to be valued earlier than it used to be in Madagascar.

Auspicious. Because governance and management require a diversity of skills and profiles, innovative ideas allied to the respective experiences of the people, but above all the passion and a certain consistency, which should constantly animate and energize the sector.

We will of course understand that the idea is not to brutally hit the elders. The goal is to perfect and optimize the transition time. We hear a very promising new wave that had the opportunity and the chance to be impregnated into the world of soccer very early on in order to ensure some room for progress. This new promotion will emerge, and we hope that they will be as successful as the Ahmad, Raoul Arizaka Rabekoto, Nathalie Rabe, Patricia Rajeriarison, Doda Andriamiasasoa, Theodore Rakotoarimino, and many more.

The present belongs to these young people. The future will judge them.