Overview:
Reporter Onz Chéry analyzes the Haitian girls’s soccer staff’s deterioration by means of their 3-0 loss to Morocco on Tuesday, elevating the query: What occurred to the ‘never-give-up’ Les Grenadières angle?
Watching the Haiti-Morocco recreation on Tuesday evening, it was laborious for longtime observers to consider that simply two years in the past, Haiti’s girls’s staff was within the 2023 World Cup. The staff was a beacon of hope not solely amid Haiti’s struggling sports activities sector, but additionally satisfaction for the nation general. The gamers have been quick, robust, sharp and hungry.
However throughout the Oct. 28 recreation at Pere Jego Stadium in Casablanca, Haiti’s Girls’s Group, coined Les Grenadières, have been neither. Star midfielder Melchie Dumornay, who began a spectacular season along with her membership Olympique Lyonnes, misplaced the ball a number of occasions. Striker Nerilia Mondesir, often composed, repeatedly bumped Moroccan gamers with extra pressure and even shouted at them as soon as. Jennyfer Limage, a defender recognized for being clever, clumsily misplaced the ball within the protection.
Haiti’s ensuing 3-0 loss to Morocco within the pleasant match is yet one more scoreline that screams ‘we’re in deep trouble.’ Their incapability to finish easy passes—whilst gamers shine on the membership stage—factors to a deeper subject: staff chemistry on and off the sphere. The pains additionally elevate questions in regards to the Haitian Soccer Federation (FHF) plan to construct on Les Grenadières’ 2023 success.
Now, followers and sports activities analysts are rising more and more impatient with Coach Malou Quignette. Insinuating that the staff is nearing all-time low, some are demanding the federation exchange Quignette with an skilled coach.
“His tactical selections and locker room administration makes him [Quignette] the primary to be criticized,” sports activities analyst Caleb Jephte Pierre mentioned via Facebook after the sport. “FHF should react rapidly to revive the staff’s status.”
Certainly, the clock is ticking. Haiti begins the qualification part for the 2027 FIFA Girls’s World Cup in November. It’ll take a miracle to get the staff prepared by then.
Drawback seeded finally World Cup
To many observers and followers, the issue began within the 2023 World Cup, when then-head coach Nicolas Delépine made selections that despatched the staff house from the event with a 0W-0D-3L document and never scoring one single purpose. Quignette, a coach who had by no means led a nationwide staff earlier than, changed him in September 2024.
Beneath Quignette’s management, Les Grenadières gained solely two of their final 11 video games, using on a 2W-1D-8L document and getting outscored 25-9. To date, he doesn’t seem to have a recreation plan to show issues round.
Though Haiti is in want of a tactical restoration, the issue seems to be past the sphere. It appears to be psychological, judging by the gamers’ physique language and performances.
Focus and cohesion are missing
Gamers lacked focus, misplaced easy quick passes and regarded helpless, even annoyed.
Recognized for having a ‘never-give-up’ angle, the Haitian gamers regarded moderately determined Tuesday. Dumornay, who was nominated for the Ballon d’Or final month, quietly stared into area as a substitute of scrambling to get again management. Mondesir usually put her head down after the staff misplaced possession and hit a weak shot within the 89th minute.
Gamers additionally lacked cohesion, trying like they barely knew the place their teammates have been on the sphere, a lot much less anticipate their subsequent transfer. Consequently, they’ve hassle shifting the ball from protection to midfield, resulting in the primary and final objectives.
Mondesir misplaced the ball within the protection, permitting Moroccan midfielder Imane Saoud to bang a shot previous goalkeeper Kaina Pietrus within the 18th minute. Ghizlane Chebbak doubled The Lionesses’ lead within the fiftieth minute. Within the seventieth minute, Limage was in possession, however had nobody to cross the ball. She tried to dribble previous a sea of Moroccan gamers, misplaced the ball and Morocco’s Najat Badri inflicted the third and final purpose on Haiti.
The staff referred to as up midfielder Danielle Etienne, however Quignette didn’t make the most of her.
Camaraderie between the gamers additionally appears to have considerably decreased. Within the late 2010s and early 2020s, gamers usually shared movies on social media of themselves dancing collectively. They not often achieve this anymore. The impression observers are left with is that the bond between the gamers on and off the sphere has weakened now that the gamers spend much less time collectively due to fewer video games.
Whereas any points they could have off the sphere can stir controversy, what is obvious on the pitch is simple: Haiti wants assist. And it wants it now if the Grenadieres are to have a prayer of returning to their 2023 glory or, a minimum of, scoring a purpose even now then.