Haiti national football team

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Haiti

Nickname(s)

Les Bicolores

Association

Fédération Haïtienne de Football

Confederation

CONCACAF (North America)

Head coach

Wagneau Eloi

Top scorer

Golman Pierre (23)

Home stadium

Stade Sylvio Cator

FIFA code

HAI

FIFA ranking

113

Highest FIFA ranking

66 (November 2007)

Lowest FIFA ranking

155 (April 1996)

Elo ranking





First kit





Second kit

First international

Haiti 1 - 2 Jamaica

(Haiti; March 22, 1925)

Biggest win

Haiti 12 - 1 USVI

(Port-au-Prince, Haiti; April 10, 2001)

Haiti 11 - 0 USVI

(Kingston, Jamaica; November 24, 2004)

Biggest defeat

Mexico 8 - 0 Haiti

(Mexico City, Mexico; July 19, 1953)

Brazil 9 - 1 Haiti

(Chicago, USA; August 30, 1959)

Costa Rica 8 - 0 Haiti

(San José, Costa Rica; March 19, 1961)

World Cup

Appearances

1 (First in 1974)

Best result

Round 1, 1974

CONCACAF Gold Cup

Appearances

3 (First in 2000)

Best result

Quarterfinals, 2002

The Haiti national football team is the national team of Haiti and is controlled by the Fédération Haïtienne de Football. They have made one appearance at the World Cup finals, in 1974, but were beaten convincingly in the opening qualifying stages by three of the pre-tournament favorites; Italy, Poland, and Argentina. Their most recent achievement was in 2007, when the national team won the 2007 Caribbean Cup.

1 History
- 1.1 The Golden Age
2 World Cup record
3 Gold Cup record
4 Current squad
5 Recent Call Ups
6 Selected famous players
7 Titles

[edit] History

Haiti has one of the longest football traditions in the Caribbean and was an early participant in World Cup qualifying. Throughout the 60s, and 70s, Haiti's footballing status in the region remained very strong, being considered the third strongest team in CONCACAF after Mexico and arguably Costa Rica. The Duvalier regime during the 70s ensured Haiti's qualification in regional and world competition through heavy political support as a method of improving the island's standing in sports. The strength of the national selection ultimately culminated in Haiti's first ever World Cup appearance in 1974, in which they surprised the world in their opening goal against a considerably stronger Italian team. The island nation has produced many talented star players over the years.

[edit] The Golden Age

The period from the mid-1960s to early 1980s could be considered a golden age for Haitian football. With Antoine Tessy as coach for much of this period, Haiti would emerge as one of the strongest teams in the CONCACAF zone, being pooled with other regionally strong football nations such as Mexico and arguably Costa Rica. By 1965, players like Henri Francillon, Philippe Vorbe and Guy St-Vil were already playing in the team and would be stalwarts of the side in the coming years.

The team developed sufficiently to reach the final round of qualifying for 1970, where they faced El Salvador. After losing the first leg at home, Haiti pulled off a 3-0 win away but the rules of the day dictated a play-off on neutral ground which El Salvador won to secure a place in the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

In the 1974 qualifiers, Haiti once again reached the final round in a qualifying tournament completely played at home. Haitian military rule of the time would make sure Haiti qualified at all costs. This time, with all odds on their favor, they would top the group and qualify for the 1974 World Cup. In West Germany, they would be drawn in an extremely tough group with Italy, Argentina and Poland. However, they surprised the football world in their debut game when star forward Emmanuel Sanon scored to give Haiti a lead over Italy, at the same time ending Dino Zoff's still standing record run of 1142 minutes without conceding a goal in international matches. They eventually lost 3-1, and would lose to Poland (7-0) and Argentina (4-1), but their brave display against Italy is forgotten by few.

Haiti would reach the final rounds of 1978 and 1982 qualifiers, but failed to make the cut. The years since have seen Haiti's footballing status decline markedly. In recent years, the political situation in the country has led to numerous defections from members of the soccer team. The team has rebuilt somewhat through the Haitian diaspora in Miami, Florida, and all Haitian home games have been played in Miami in recent years. Last time Haiti played in Miami was on August 28 2007 against Club Atlético Boca Juniors. Haiti as of recently has been rising once again as a footballing power in CONCACAF.

[edit] World Cup record

Emmanuel Sanon scoring against Dino Zoff in 1974

1930 - Did not enter
1934 - Did not qualify
1938 - Did not enter
1950 - Did not enter
1954 - Did not qualify
1958 to 1966 - Did not enter
1970 - Did not qualify
1974 - Round 1
1978 to 1986 - Did not qualify
1990 - Did not enter
1994 to 2006 - Did not qualify

[edit] Gold Cup record

1991 - Did not qualify
1993 - Did not enter
1996 - Did not enter
1998 - Withdrew
2000 - Round 1
2002 - Quarterfinals
2003 - Did not qualify
2005 - Did not qualify
2007 - Round 1

[edit] Current squad

The following players were called for the friendly match against Venezuela on February 3 and February 6, 2008.

Pos.	Player	DoB (Age)	Caps	Goals	Club
GK	Gabard Fénélon	January 3, 1981	34	0	Miami FC
DF	Pierre Richard Bruny	April 6, 1972			Don Bosco
DF	Windsor Noncent	June 12, 1984	8	1	Levallois SC
DF	Frantz Gilles	November 1, 1977			AS Cavaly
DF	Frantz Bertin	May 30, 1983	4	0	Benidorm CD
DF	Romain Genevois	October 28, 1987	1	0	FC Gueugnon
MF	Fucien Brunel	August 26, 1984	20	6	Aigle Noir
MF	Alain Vubert	November 25, 1985	16	0	Baltimore SC
MF	Dorcélus Jemps	January 4, 1980			Victory SC
MF	Peter Germain	January 22, 1982			Baltimore SC
MF	Jean Sony Alcénat Tiga	January 23, 1986	19	3	Aigle Noir
FW	Abel Thermeus	January 19, 1983	3	0	Levante UD
FW	Éliphène Cadet	August 10, 1980	32	12	Tempête FC
FW	Davidson Charles	March 28, 1983	2	1	L'Entente SSG
FW	Pierre Mercier		3	0	US Luzenac

[edit] Recent Call Ups

[edit] Goalkeepers

Name	Position	Date of Birth	Place of Birth	Club
Yvenel Normil	Goalkeeper	Unknown	Unknown	Don Bosco

[edit] Defenders

Name	Position	Date of Birth	Place of Birth	Club
Stephane Guillaume	Defender	February 9, 1984	St. Marc	Miami FC
Josué Mayard	Defender	October 3, 1981	Montreal	Notodden FK
Jean-Jacques Pierre	Defender	January 23, 1981	Léogâne	FC Nantes
Jamil Jean-Jacques	Defender	October 2, 1975	Port Salut	Miami FC
Regillio Nooitmeer	Defender	July 16, 1983	Rotterdam	Galway United
Mones Chery	Defender	December 2, 1980	Port-au-Prince	Racing Club Haitien

[edit] Midfielders

Name	Position	Date of Birth	Place of Birth	Club
Alain Vuibert	Midfielder	Unknown	St Marc	Baltimore SC
Alexandre Boucicaut	Midfielder	November 18, 1981	Port-au-Prince	Violette AC

[edit] Forwards

Name	Position	Date of Birth	Place of Birth	Club
Jean Philippe Peguero	Forward	September 19, 1981	Port-de-Paix	San Jose Earthquakes
Fritzson Jean Baptiste	Forward	January 4, 1986	Aux Cayes	Aigle Noir
Ricardo Pierre-Louis	Forward	November 2, 1984	Léogane	Cape Cod Crusaders
Fabrice Nöel	Forward	July 21, 1985	Gressier	Puerto Rico Islanders