Sebastien Migne masterminded Haiti’s World Cup qualification (Picture: Getty)
Haiti’s unlikely qualification for next summer’s World Cup was rendered all the more remarkable given manager Sebastien Migne has never set foot in the country.
A 2-0 triumph over Nicaragua secured the Caribbean nation a place at next summer’s 48-team extravaganza which is to be jointly hosted by America, Canada and Mexico.
A second World Cup appearance, and a first one since it’s disastrous1974 campaign which ended in group stage elimination, was masterminded by 52-year-old Migne.
The team has been forced to play all their matches away from the country where armed gangs have taken control of almost all of the capital, Port-au-Prince, amid a conflict that has forced some 1.3 million people from their homes and fuelled famine-level hunger.
‘It’s fantastic that after 52 years’ absence Haiti has qualified for the biggest footballing stage,’ Migne told a press conference on Tuesday in Curacao, where they hosted their last fixture.
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They had a few hundred supporters watching them qualify and Migne addressed a single reporter afterwards in an empty press conference room.
‘I’m happy to make everybody proud and for my players because they deserve it. I sometimes pushed the older players to the limits, but it wasn’t for nothing,’ Migne said.
@metrosportuk That’s some good going from the gaffer 😮💨 Haiti’s manager, Sébastien Migné, has taken the country to their second-ever World Cup after a 2-0 victory against Nicaragua in the qualifiers. He’s managed to do this however, by never once stepping foot in Haiti because it’s so dangerous. #haiti #worldcupqualifiers #worldcup #concacaf #sebastienmigne ♬ Trap – Sp No Beat
‘We had a road map laid out from the beginning. We knew where we were going but we also knew it would be a steep road. But we didn’t give it up, we did it all together.’
Haiti had been trailing in the standings after Honduras beat them 3-0 in October but bounced back to ensure first place in Group C with wins over Costa Rica and Nicaragua in their final two fixtures over the past six days.
‘We never panicked. I know how to do it because I qualified for the previous World Cup with another country,’ the manager added.
Migne was the assistant coach of Cameroon at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
‘It’s about keeping calm, working collectively, and that’s what we did. And on top of that, we had some quality. So once we were connected to one another, I had no problems, and then it was crazy, high-level resilience.’
Haiti fans celebrate World Cup qualification (SIFFROY/AFP via Getty Images)
Wolves’ Jean-Ricner Bellegarde is part of Haiti’s squad (BECERRA/AFP via Getty Images)
The key to qualification was unity, he added. ‘Unity, unity, and more unity. We also refreshed the team by introducing a couple of new faces, but we are not a perfect team.
‘However, the more matches we play, the better this team will be. We are going to grow with experience.’
The levels of danger in Haiti are such that Migne has not been there since being appointed 18 months ago, but he hopes to travel there soon.
‘Certainly before we next get together in March. I want to see what is being done locally and how they play,’ he said.
‘We will have a squad of 26 for the World Cup, and the message I’m sending to them is it is up to them to show me what they can do.’
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