Francis Rasolofonirina

Francis Rasolofonirina
Personal information
Full name Maminiaina Francis Rasolofonirina[1]
Date of birth (1986-07-22) 22 July 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Tsihombe, Madagascar
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
North Star
2007 USCA Foot
2008–2016 Petite Rivière Noire
2016–2018 Cercle de Joachim SC
2019–2024 AS Vacoas-Phoenix
International career
2015–2023 Mauritius 47 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Maminiaina Francis Rasolofonirina (born 22 July 1986) is a footballer who plays as a centre-back.[1] Born in Madagascar, he made 47 appearances for the Mauritius national team scoring twice.

Club career

Rasolofonirina was born in Tsihombe, Madagascar.[2] He moved to Toliara to play for North Star before joining USCA Foot.[2] After one season with USCA Foot, he signed with Mauritian club Petite Rivière Noire.[2] He remained with Petite Rivière Noire until 2016, when he moved to Curepipe-based Cercle de Joachim SC who offered a "huge contract".[2] The transfer fee paid to Petite Rivière Noire was reported as Rs50,000.[3] For the 2019–20 season, he went to AS Vacoas-Phoenix.[2]

International career

Rasolofonirina made his debut for the Mauritius national team in 2015.[4] In March 2016 he scored the only goal in a 1–0 win in 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification against Rwanda, preserving Mauritius' chances of qualification.[4]

Style of play

In 2016 Mauritian newspaper Défi Sport described Rasolofonirina as "one of the best full-backs" in the country.[4] In 2020 Clément Rabary of Midi Madagasikara highlighted Rasolofonirina's "intelligence and vision" as centre-back.[2]

Personal life

Rasolofonirina has Mauritian nationality.[2] He is married to a Mauritian woman with whom he has a son.[2]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by national team and year[5]
National team Year Apps Goals
Mauritius 2015 8 0
2016 7 1
2017 12 1
2018 7 0
2019 10 0
2023 3 0
Total 47 2
Scores and results list Mauritius' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Rasolofonirina goal.
List of international goals scored by Francis Rasolofonirina[5]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 26 March 2016 Stade Anjalay, Belle Vue Maurel, Mauritius  Rwanda 1–0 1–0 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification [6]
2 22 April 2017 Stade Anjalay, Belle Vue Maurel, Mauritius  Seychelles 2–0 2–1 2018 African Nations Championship qualification

References

  1. ^ a b c Francis Rasolofonirina at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Rabary, Clément (15 May 2020). "Football : Francis Rasolofonirina, la fierté des… Mauriciens" [Football: Francis Rasolofonirina, the pride of... Mauritius]. Midi Madagasikara (in French). Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  3. ^ "MBPL : Rasolofonirina passe au Cercle de Joachim" [MBPL: Rasolofonirina moves to Cercle de Joachim]. Défi Sport (in French). 7 February 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Li, Olivier (25 April 2016). "Maurice, terre d'accueil pour les sportifs malgaches" [Mauritius, a welcoming land for Madagascan sportsmen and women]. Défi Sport (in French). Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Francis Rasolofonirina". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Mauritius 1-0 Rwanda". cafonline.com. CAF. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2016.


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