MIAMI.- Haiti has had a tremendous 2019. After finishing as the very top team in the Concacaf Nations League qualification table, it took Mexico to extra time in a Gold Cup semifinal, the farthest Les Grenadiers ever have advanced in the tournament.
Now Haiti is back in action in the Nations League and will look to shock the world once again. It’s already stunned group opponent Costa Rica, beating the Ticos in the Gold Cup group stage, and will face fellow Caribbean upstart Curacao to kick off Nations League action in the first window.
Manager Marc Collat’s challenge may be getting his team to replicate the same high-energy attitude it showed during the Gold Cup. Three of his team’s four victories at the Gold Cup came with Haiti having to come from behind.
Likely center-back pairing Andrew Jean Baptiste and Jems Geffrard will look to build off the clean sheet kept against Mexico in the first 90 minutes of the semifinal, with Haiti’s strong aerial game coming into focus in a way it previously hadn’t during the tournament.
Up front, Duckens Nazon, whose six goals in CNL qualification led all scorers, and Frantzdy Pierrot also had successful tournaments and will hope to build on that foundation.
The Gold Cup was a good showcase for Haitian football, but midfield Steeven Saba remains in the domestic league and goalkeeper Johny Placide is still unsigned. Midfielder Bryan Alceus did manage to move up to the French second league, but few others saw a big boost.
That could change if Haiti can once again flex its muscle in the Nations League and show its players can be contributors on the highest of levels.
