Zacharie Boucher, a 34-year-old goalkeeper for Troyes, was set to make his international debut with Madagascar in the CAN 2027 qualifiers against Nigeria and Tanzania. However, his call-up was short-lived as the Malagasy Football Federation (FMF) withdrew him from the squad just days later. The reason behind this decision was an interview Boucher gave in 2018 while playing for AJ Auxerre, where he explicitly stated that he would not consider playing for Madagascar, citing his French heritage.
In the 2018 interview, Boucher clearly shut the door on a potential Malagasy selection, stating that he was French and had never considered himself Malgasy. He emphasized that the French national team jersey was important to him, implying that he would not entertain a call-up from Madagascar. These comments, which had gone unnoticed for eight years, resurfaced after his convocation for the CAN 2027 qualifiers, sparking a heated debate among Malagasy supporters.
The FMF explained that the decision to drop Boucher was made after the team's coach, Corentin Martins, became aware of the 2018 interview during an internal meeting. Following discussions between the parties involved, it was decided to exclude Boucher from the squad for the September fixtures. However, the FMF's statement did not indicate that Boucher is banned from the team in the long term or that they have given up on him for the rest of the qualifiers or the CAN 2027.
While the current situation suggests that Boucher's international career with Madagascar may be over, there is a precedent in African football that warrants caution. French defender Issa Diop, who had previously prioritized playing for France, faced a similar situation when he tried to switch allegiance to his parents' countries of origin, Senegal and Morocco. Diop was ultimately shut out by both teams, with the Moroccan coach explicitly stating that he was no longer an option.
Boucher's case differs from Diop's, as he has never been called up to play for France, even at the youth level. Nevertheless, it demonstrates that an African football federation can refuse to select a player who has previously snubbed their national team. The FMF's decision to drop Boucher has raised questions about his future with the Malagasy team and whether he will be given another chance to represent the team in the future.
As the situation unfolds, football fans will be watching to see if the FMF will reopen the door for Boucher in the coming months or if this episode marks the end of his international career with Madagascar. The team's coach, Corentin Martins, and the FMF will need to weigh their options carefully, considering both Boucher's skills as a goalkeeper and the potential backlash from fans and the wider football community.
Key points
- Zacharie Boucher was dropped from Madagascar's CAN 2027 qualifier squad due to a 2018 interview where he stated he would not consider playing for the team.
