Haiti targeting World Cup knockout rounds, says coach

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP) — Haiti coach Sebastien Migne said Friday his team are targeting a place in the knockout rounds of the World Cup as he named a 26-strong squad for the tournament.

Haiti are returning to the World Cup this year for the first time since qualifying for the 1974 finals, where they have been placed in a daunting Group C that includes Brazil, Morocco and Scotland.

Migne said while Haiti’s main goal is to win a first ever point in the World Cup, the bigger challenge was to secure a place in the last 32.

“The primary objective will, of course, be to secure our first-ever point in the World Cup finals. However, setting that as the sole goal would provide too little motivation for my players,” Migne said.

“Our new roadmap includes reaching the Round of 32; that is what we will strive to achieve, by focusing on our style of play rather than solely on the high stakes involved.”

Haiti open their campaign on June 19 against Scotland, before taking on five-time world champions Brazil on June 19 and then concluding the group on June 24 against Morocco, semi-finalists at the 2022 World Cup.

“This is a tremendous showcase for Haiti — opportunities like this don’t come along very often,” Migne said.

Haiti battled through to the World Cup against a backdrop of domestic chaos, with the impoverished Caribbean nation grappling with gang violence that has triggered an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

Migne meanwhile named two new faces in his squad for the World Cup, with Slovakia-based midfielder Dominique Simon included along with Lenny Joseph, who plays for Hungarian side Ferencvaros.

Haiti will head to Florida for a pre-World Cup training camp on May 24, and will face a friendly match on June 2 against New Zealand before a final warm-up against Peru on June 5.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Johnny Placide (Bastia/FRA), Alexandre Pierre (Sochaux/FRA), Josue Duverger (Koblenz/GER)

Defenders: Carlens Arcus (Angers/FRA),Wilguens Pauguain (Waregem/BEL), Duke Lacroix (Colorado/USA), Martin Experience (Nancy/FRA), Jean-Kevin Duverne (Ghent/BEL), Ricardo Ade (Quito/ECU), Hannes Delcroix (Lugano/SUI),Keeto Thermoncy (Berne/SUI)

Midfielders: Leverton Pierre (Vizela/POR), Carl-Fred Sainthé (El Paso/USA), Jean-Jacques Danley (Philadelphia Union/USA), Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Wolverhampton/ENG), Pierre Woodenski (Violette/HAI), Dominique Simon (Presov/SVK)

Forwards: Louicius Deedson (Dallas/USA), Ruben Providence (Almere/NED), Josue Casimir (Auxerre/FRA), Derrick Etienne (Toronto/CAN), Wilson Isidor (Sunderland/ENG), Duckens Nazon (Esteghlal/IRN), Frantzdy Pierrot (Rizespor/TUR), Yassin Fortune (Vizela/POR), Lenny Joseph (Ferencvaros/HUN)