Madagascar joined Group A of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers yesterday after eliminating Sao Tome Principe on a 4-2 aggregate.

In a return match played in Antananarivo,Madagascar won 3-2 having won 1-0 during the first leg match that was played in Estadio National four days ago.

The home side scored two goals in the first fifteen minutes. Promising young forward, Paulin netted a brace sloting a curling shot from the edge of the box for the opener in the first minute before adding the second goal on the 15th minute having received a pass from Faneva Iva to send the ball into an empty net.

Sao Tome and Priciple scored their first half  goal through Harramiz Ferreira in the 28th minute.

In the second half,Madagascar sought to maintain the same tempo playing with a well maintained shape going forward and in defense. Both fullbacks never went up past the half way line often and it was a great defensive plan from the home side.

Seven minutes from the restart, Carolus had a chance to make it three but he shot wild from his weaker left foot with Bapasy screaming for the ball going forward. Zotsars had picked out Ima on the left before the lanky striker laid the ball off for Coralus.

Sao Tome made his first change after ten minutes,Diogo coming on for Sousa Pontes in a bid to boost his attack.

But Madagascar were relentless in their fight to keep all points at home and kept attacking.

Their efforts were for the third time rewarded when Carolus slotted in the 80th minute to make it 3-1.

Sao Tome played attacking football in the last minutes.It was the moment that Varela sent a volley into the net for the second goal for his side.

Madagascar now joins Senegal, Equatorial Guinea and Sudan for the group matches that will begin in the month of July.

Madagascar XI : Dabo (GK), Debakely, Bapasy, Mario, Toby, Dada, Dax, Zotsara, Carolus, Paulin, Ima (C)

Subs : Bastia (GK), Ando, Lolody, Mikka, Johny Angio, Tantely

Sao Tome Principe XI : Giral (GK), Adimar, Ivonaldo, Jordao, Leonildo, Joçy, Harramiz, Silva, Varela, Charles, Luis Leal (C)

Subs: Sousa (GK), Santos, Névés, Diogo, Keidy, Taraveira