Overview:
Haiti’s 3-0 heartbreaking defeat to Honduras Monday night time uncovered recurring issues which have plagued the nationwide crew for years: questionable teaching, poor goalkeeping and lack of offensive creativity. The loss brings a sobering actuality test to Haiti’s World Cup ambitions.
Some Haitians may virtually odor the World Cup after Haiti’s uplifting 3-0 victory over Nicaragua on Oct. 9. However that optimism shortly evaporated 4 days later when Honduras handed Les Grenadiers a sobering 3-0 defeat in Tegucigalpa.
The loss was greater than a setback — it was a actuality test, exposing the identical continual flaws which have haunted Haiti for years: poor teaching selections, shaky goalkeeping and a stagnant assault.
Regardless of new and proficient gamers from Europe and North America — Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Hannes Delcroix from the English Premier League and Josué Casimir from the French Ligue 1 — Haiti stays removed from World Cup degree. With simply two qualifiers left — towards Costa Rica on Nov. 13 and Nicaragua on Nov. 18 —Les Grenadiers sit third in Group C and face a steep climb to maintain their World Cup hopes alive. Their destiny is not of their palms 100% — even when they win the final two video games, they’ll need assistance from the opposite groups in Group C to qualify for the mega occasion for a second time after 52 years.
Recurring flaws, recycled outcomes, teaching underneath scrutiny
Haiti’s struggles have been seen for the reason that 2024 Nations League and the second spherical of qualifiers. These issues have been masked by wins towards smaller sides like Barbados, Saint Lucia and Sint Maarten — groups that supplied little resistance.
Even within the present qualifying spherical, attracts towards underperforming Honduras and Costa Rica (0-0 and 3-3, respectively) and a win over common Nicaragua disguised the crew’s deeper weaknesses. When Honduras confirmed up robust on Monday night time, Haiti’s vulnerabilities have been uncovered.
By the fortieth minute, the crew was trailing 3-0 after a collection of defensive errors and poor goalkeeping. The loss was decisive — and acquainted.
A world-class crew requires a coach able to adapting and making decisive tactical calls. Frenchman Sébastien Migné, Haiti’s coach since March 2024, has but to show he can try this.
Haiti has lengthy struggled with unqualified coaches, which considerably hampers the crew. The final time Haiti had a talented coach was in 2019, when Marc Collat, one other Frenchman, was in cost. Throughout that 12 months’s Gold Cup, Haiti reached the semifinals—narrowly shedding to Mexico on a controversial penalty in further time.
Migné earned early credit score for recruiting high-profile gamers from Europe however has struggled to handle them successfully. His decision-making — from lineup choices to substitutions — continues to frustrate followers and analysts alike.
On Monday, Migné benched constant performers left-back Duke Lacroix and winger Ruben Windfall, changing them with Garven Metusala and Derrick Etienne Jr., respectively, each of whom have seen restricted minutes. Etienne appeared misplaced switching flanks, whereas Metusala miscommunicated with Bellegarde, permitting Honduran winger Rigoberto Rivas to attain the third aim.
The coach made changes at halftime, together with bringing on center-back Delcroix to assist Ricardo Adé stabilize Haiti’s line of defense, however the harm was already achieved. His tactical pairing of strikers Duckens Nazon and Frantzdy Pierrot — two highly effective however sluggish forwards — once more proved ineffective, bogging down Haiti’s assault.
When questioned earlier than the match, Migné defended beginning Pierrot, saying he “performs a central function by monopolizing the protection.” On the sector, nevertheless, Pierrot did not make an affect.
The coach’s physique language on the sideline advised the story — anxious, reactive and seemingly out of concepts. Many now query whether or not Migné has the temperament or tactical acumen to steer Haiti by way of pressure-filled qualifiers.
Haiti’s followers have been vocal of their frustration. Social media is crammed with calls for for his dismissal:
“Everyone collectively, let’s remark underneath each FHF submit: Get Migné out!” one supporter wrote.
“Coach doesn’t have the extent for the crew, in any respect,” one other added.
Goalkeeping disaster deepens amid path ahead — however time is operating out
Longtime captain Johny Placide, Haiti’s goalkeeper since 2011, once more regarded unreliable between the posts.
Even within the win over Nicaragua, Placide appeared unsettled — dashing off his line, misjudging clearances, and making dangerous kick-saves. In opposition to Honduras, he made the identical pricey mistake, spilling a rebound into Rivas’s path for a straightforward aim.
Haiti’s goalkeeping depth is skinny, and the shortage of a groomed successor to Placide is more and more evident. With no assured presence in aim, even essentially the most proficient backline struggles to take care of composure.
Mathematically, Haiti stays alive within the qualifiers. However the efficiency hole between Haiti and its regional rivals is widening. Except drastic modifications are made as followers urge — starting with management and tactical changes — the dream of returning to the World Cup for the primary time since 1974 will stay simply that: a dream.
New expertise alone is not going to repair previous issues. Haiti wants a strategic rebuild — ranging from the sidelines.