On Tuesday, November 4th, 2025, as part of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, our young Grenadiers faced the Egyptian Pharaohs at the Aspire Zone - Pitch 5 stadium in Doha. The match ended in a heavy defeat for the Grenadiers [1-4].

Starting XI :

Haitian coach Eddy César has announced the starting eleven for the Grenadiers (4-3-3 formation) against Egypt's "Pharaohs" (4-2-3-1 formation).

#1 Clifford Gene : Mount Pleasant Academy (Jamaica)

#2 Alcime Arthur : Real Hope Academy (Haiti)

#3 Wasson Thermoncy : Team AFF-FFV Fribourg (Switzerland)

#5 Miguel Joseph : Mount Pleasant Academy (Jamaica)

#8 Théo Lacombe : CE Sabadell FC (Spain)

#9 Nikolai Pierre : Orlando Academy (USA)

#10 Emerson Laisse : Mount Pleasant Academy (Jamaica)

#11 Franco Celestin : Mount Pleasant Academy (Jamaica)

#14 Louis Stanley : Aigle Noir Athletic Club (Haiti)

#17 Zamor Medinel : SLG Academie (Haiti)

#18 Djouby Jean-Philippe : Mount Pleasant Academy (Jamaica)

Summary :

Facing a superior attack and defense from the "Pharaohs" our young Grenadiers in Group E, despite their enthusiasm and determination, were unable to overcome the speed of the Egyptians, who made the difference on the field. A difficult start to the World Championship, beginning with a resounding defeat [1-4] for Haiti.

Bellal Atia, taking advantage of a lack of cohesion in the Haitian defense, opened the scoring for Egypt [0-1]. Riding their momentum, Abdel El Zoghby, following a team move, extended Egypt's lead in the 10th minute [0-2]. Nikolai Pierre gave Haiti a glimmer of hope by scoring a superb curling shot in the 20th minute [1-2]. But the Africans regained the lead thanks to a Haitian defensive error, with Hamza Abdelkarim scoring in the 27th minute [1-3].

After the break, the pace intensified, but Egypt remained solid in the duels and compact in defense. Haiti tried to build attacks but failed to trouble the opposing defense. Despite their desire to reduce the deficit, the Grenadiers couldn't capitalize, and Omar Kamal headed home a corner kick to score Egypt's fourth and final goal in the 72nd minute [1-4], temporarily putting them at the top of Group E.

Striker Nikolai Pierre, who scored Haiti's only goal to avoid a humiliating defeat, said after the match, "I think we made too many small marking errors that cost us dearly, especially on set pieces. We sorted things out at halftime and got our heads straight." We will only progress in this tournament, and our goal remains to go as far as possible. Scoring at the World Cup has always been my dream since I was a child. Well, it's not the senior World Cup, but it's a first step! It's my first World Cup goal, so I'm obviously happy. But I would be even happier if the team played as well as we can.

FHF coach Eddy Cesar, reacting to this defeat in the first match of the Qayar 2025 World Cup, declared, "I don't want anyone to hang their head."

For the Haitian Football Federation, "This is a young team full of talent, delivering a great performance, but to the great sadness of the Haitian people and football fans, the result does not reflect the efforts made. The bitter taste of defeat lingers, but we salute the efforts of the young grenadiers and will continue to make them feel that the entire nation supports them. The fight has only just begun !"

Grenadier Replacements :

46’ Rezil D. Kenson (#4) Mount Pleasant Academy (Jamaica) replaces Stanly Louis

46’ Woodson Félix(#7) Real Hope Academy (Haiti) replaces Djouby Jean-Philippe

84’ Dave Bernard (#13) Real Hope Academy (Haiti) replaces Wasson Thermoncy

84’ Rhode Phaden Louissaint (#15) Mount Pleasant Academy (Jamaica) replaces Théo Benjamin Lacombe

89’ Da-Benz Jacquet: Aigle Noir Athletic Club (Haiti) replaces Emerson George Laïssé

Goals :

Haiti :

Nikolai Olivier 20’ [1-2]

Egypt:

Belal Attia 3’ [0-1]

Abdelaziz Elzoghby 11’ [0-2]

Hamza Abdelkarim 27’ [1-3]

Omar Omùar Kamal 72’ [1-4]

Provisional Group E Standings:

#1 Egypt : (1 match played), 4 goals scored, 1 goal conceded, 1 win, 3 points;

#2 Venezuela : (1 match played), 3 goals scored, 0 goals conceded, 1 win, 3 points;

#3 Haiti (1 match played), 1 goal scored, 4 goals conceded, 0 wins, 0 points;

#4 England : (1 match played), 0 goals scored, 3 goals conceded, 0 wins, 0 points;

Qatar 2025 Match Schedule :

November 7, 2025 :

Haiti vs England

November 10, 2025:

Haiti vs Venezuela

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46062-haiti-qatar-2025-world-cup-final-selection-list-for-the-u-17-grenadiers.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46031-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45953-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45879-haiti-qatar-2025-world-cup-3rd-and-final-phase-of-preparation-list-of-players.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45741-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45674-haiti-qatar-2025-world-cup-list-of-players-preparing-for-phase-2.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45655-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45636-haiti-football-pm-handed-a-100-million-gourdes-check-to-fhf.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-45506-icihaiti-qatar-2025-world-cup-gb-group-official-sponsor-of-the-u-17-grenadiers.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45351-haiti-u-17-world-cup-qatar-2025-intensive-preparation-program.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44986-haiti-u17-world-cup-qatar-2025-haiti-knows-its-opponents-video.html

BF/ HaitiLibre