Malagasy Pro League Explained

Orange Pro League Madagascar
Country:Madagascar
Confed:CAF
Founded:1962
Teams:12
Levels:1
Domest Cup:Coupe de Madagascar
Super Coupe de Madagascar
Confed Cup:Champions League
Confederation Cup
Champions:Disciples
Season:2023-24
Most Successful Club:CNaPS Sport (7)
Current:Orange Proleague 2024-25

The Pro League Championnat de Football National Division 1 (known as Orange Pro League Madagascar for sponsorship reasons) is the premier football league in Madagascar. Prior to 2019, it was known as the Three Horses Beer-sponsored THB Champions League.

In 2024 it was rebranded as Pureplay Football League, again for sponsorship reasons.[1]

The highest scoring football match ever in history occurred in this tournament in 2002 when SO I’Emyrne scored 149 own goals in protest of a refereeing decision.

Format

1962-2019:

The competition is played in a round-robin format between the 24 qualifying clubs from the 22 regional leagues in the country. In the first round, the teams are divided into four groups of six teams, with each team playing the others once, and with the top three clubs of each group advancing to the next round. In the second round, the teams are divided into two groups of six teams, with each team playing the others once, and with the top two clubs of each group advancing to the final round. In the final round, called the Groupe des As, the four teams play each other twice and the winner is crowned as the champion.

Late 2019-present:

In October 2019, the competition evolved to be a more professional league comprising 12 teams.[2] Each team square off against each other twice (1 home match and 1 away) during the course of the season. The team having the most points at the end of the season becomes Malagasy champions.

From December 2019, the competition became known as Orange Pro League Madagascar due to sponsorship reasons.[3]

Current clubs (season 2022/2023)

Northern Group

Southern Group

2024 edition (Pureplay Football league)

1/2 finals, 1st round:[5]

Finals

Previous winners

YearsChampions
1962AS Fortior (1)
1963AS Fortior (2)
1964COSFAP (1)
1965COSFAP (2)
1966COSFAP (3)
1967Racing Club (1)
1968FS Firegnina (1)
1969USCA Foot (1)
1970MMM Toamasina (1)
1971AS Saint Michel (1)
1972Fortior Club de la Côte Ouest (1)
1973JS Antalaha (1)
1974AS Corps Enseignement (1)
1975AS Corps Enseignement (2)
1976Not held
1977AS Corps Enseignement (3)
1978AS Saint Michel (2)
1979Fortior Club de la Côte Ouest (2)
1980MMM Toamasina (2)
1981AS Somasud (1)
1982Dinamo Fima (1)
1983Dinamo Fima (2)
1984Not held
1985AS Sotema (1)
1986Bankin' ny Tantsaha Mpamokatra (1)
1987Jos Nosy-Bé (1)
1988COSFAP (4)
1989AS Sotema (2)
1990ASF Fianarantsoa (1)
1991AS Sotema (3)
1992AS Sotema (4)
1993Bankin' ny Tantsaha Mpamokatra (2)
1994FC Rainizafy (1)
1995FC Fobar (1)
1996FC Banky Fampadrosoana ny Varotra (1)
1997Domoina Soavina Atsimondrano (1)
1998Domoina Soavina Atsimondrano (2)
1999AS Fortior (3)
2000AS Fortior (4)
2001Stade olympique de l'Emyrne (1)
2002AS Adema (1)
2003Ecoredipharm FC (1)
2004USJF Ravinala (1)
2005USCA Foot (2)
2006AS Adema (2)
2007Ajesaia (1)
2008Académie Ny Antsika (1)
2009Ajesaia (2)
2010CNaPS Sport (1)
2011Japan Actuel's FC (1)
2012AS Adema (3)
2013CNaPS Sport (2)
2014CNaPS Sport (3)
2015CNaPS Sport (4)
2016CNaPS Sport (5)
2017CNaPS Sport (6)
2018CNaPS Sport (7)
2019Fosa Juniors FC (1)
2020Not finished
2021AS Adema (4)
2022Centre de formation d'Andoharanofotsy (1)
2023Fosa Juniors FC (2)
2024Disciples FC[6]

Performance by club

ClubCityTitlesLast title
7 2018
4 2000
4 1992
4 2021
3 1977
2 2009
2 1983
2 1998
2 1979
2 2022
2 1980
2 1978
2 1986
1 2008
1 1996
1 1956
CFFA 1 2023
1 1973
1 1988
1 2024
1 2003
1 1990
1 1968
1 1995
1 2011
1 1987
1 1994
1 1981
1 2001
1 2005
1 1969
1 2004

Top goalscorers

Season Country Goalscorer TeamGoals
2014Njiva RakotoharimalalaCNaPS Sport
2015Elvi Brunat BaritoaPrescot 11
2016Lucien Kassimo CNaPS Sport
2021-22Tsilavina Fanamezantsoa RazanokotoFosa Juniors10
Fenohasina Gilles RazafimaroAjesaia
2022-23Toky RakotondraveCOSFA7
2023-24Reginot Rakotonirina Tsaramandroso5
Jean Andrianantenaina Dato

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.lexpress.mg/2024/05/football-coca-cola-pure-play-football.html Pureplay
  2. Web site: Football : La Pro League lancée ! . Redaction Midi Madagasikara . 30 May 2020 . fr-FR . 12 October 2019.
  3. Web site: Football : La Pro League devient Orange Pro League Madagascar . Redaction Midi Madagasikara . 30 May 2020 . fr-FR . 5 December 2019.
  4. https://pro-league.mg Pro-League Madagascar
  5. https://midi-madagasikara.mg/football-pfl-demi-finale-victoire-de-zanakala-fc-face-a-disciples-fc/ PFL demi finale
  6. https://www.lexpress.mg/2024/07/pure-play-football-league-disciples-fc.html Pure Play football league