Madagascar Withdraws Goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher's Call-Up After Eight-Year-Old Interview Resurfaces
Selected for the first time with the Barea for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the goalkeeper saw his call-up cancelled after the resurfacing of an eight-year-old interview in which he stated he never wanted to play for Madagascar.
Goalkeeper Zacharie Boucher had been called up for the first time by the Madagascar Football Federation ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, according to RFI.
But an interview given eight years earlier resurfaced, prompting the cancellation of his selection. According to RFI, the player stated in the interview: "I am French, I have never been Malagasy," and added that if he were ever called up with the Barea, he would not "go."
Following the circulation of these remarks, the Madagascar Football Federation decided on Saturday, September 19, to reverse the goalkeeper's call-up, RFI reports.
The source does not detail the context in which the interview was originally given, nor the precise circumstances of its public resurfacing. It also does not specify whether Zacharie Boucher has reacted to the federation's decision.
Sources
- «Je suis Français, je n’ai jamais été Malgache»: l'interview qui prive Zacharie Boucher de la sélection malgache — RFI — Français
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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