ANTANANARIVO (Madagascar) - Mickael Pivaud is the new head coach of the Madagascar men's national team, the president of the country's Basketball Federation confirmed to FIBA.basketball.
Pivaud will take up his new position ahead of Window 3 of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers, which will take place in Senegal from 2 to 5 July.
Taking over from the departed coach John Douaglin, the Frenchman will immediately be tasked with trying to revive Madagascar's hopes in challenging Group B of the World Cup Qualifiers, where they currently stand at 0-3 following a poor start in the second window (26 February – 1 March) in Dakar, Senegal.
Pivaud, aged 45, is the head of the youth academy at the French club AS Monaco, and he won the French U20 Championship with Hyères-Toulon in 2012.
He has also coached Marseille in the second division and served as an assistant coach at Champagne Basket in the French Pro A league.
As he embarks on his new journey with Ankoay, Pivaud will work with the exceptional point guard Mathias M'Madi, who competed in the 2022 U18 AfroBasket tournament, the 2023 U19 Basketball World Cup, and the 2026 AfroBasket tournament.
Pivaud may also have at his disposal players such as France-based power forward Sitraka Raharimanantoanina and combo guard Kiady Mijoro Razanamahenina when Madagascar returns to Senegal for the qualifiers.
Another key player for Madagascar is former U18 AfroBasket and U19 Basketball World Cup captain Lovasoa Andriatsarafara, who may appear in Senegal if his college commitments with Minot State University permit.
Despite the difficult start in the qualifiers, the new coach has something to work with.
Although Pivaud has never coached at the national team level, he must rally the Malagasy team to steady their World Cup qualifying campaign and ensure they can compete against strong opponents in July.
In the upcoming World Cup qualifying window, Madagascar will face Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Congo DR in Group B.
FIBA