Two disastrous performances from Haitian women’s soccer team must serve as wake-up call

CAP-HAÏTIEN — Haitian women’s national soccer team delivered two of its most lackluster performances in recent memory this week, losing 4-1 and 3-1 to Canada in back-to-back friendly matches. But the concern extends far beyond the scoreboard.

These losses come as the team is facing a convergence of challenges. Since 2020, the Haitian Football Federation (FHF) has been run by a FIFA-appointed normalization committee following the sexual abuse scandal involving former president Yves “Dadou” Jean-Bart. A domestic women’s league has not operated since 2019. Many top players are now based abroad, limiting team cohesion. 

Training camps have become sporadic, and the once-functional Camp Nous training center is now surrounded by armed gangs. All this underlines a deep-rooted institutional instability that has stunted the team’s growth—making the two recent defeats less a surprise and more a symptom of systemic breakdown.

The team is simply unraveling. Just two losses alone (4-1 and 3-1) against Canada—the seventh best team in the world, according to FIFA’s ranking— are not the issue with Haiti, ranked 53rd. But it was the team’s performance that was extremely worrisome. 

Star midfielder Melchie “Corventina” Dumornay, who has often carried the team with her talent, struggled in the opening match on May 31 at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg. She regained some rhythm in the second half, assisting a goal and converting a penalty in the follow-up match at Saputo Stadium on June 3. But her inconsistent form mirrored a team-wide decline.

Veterans like Sherly Jeudy and Batcheba Louis also underperformed. Both missed open chances, and Louis, despite scoring in the first match, looked disconnected from the team’s rhythm.

The defensive unit was especially poor—frequently losing marks, giving opponents too much space and collapsing under pressure. In the first game, Canada’s Adriana Leon scored twice within the first nine minutes due to unmarked runs and passive defending. Right back Amandine Pierre-Louis was repeatedly caught out of position or ball-watching.

Offensively, Haiti struggled to build through midfield, rarely connecting passes beyond the halfway line. It was as if the players were strangers on the field.

A long fall from grace, defensive woes and absent leaders

Just two years ago, Haiti was celebrated for qualifying for its first FIFA Women’s World Cup at the senior level. But after losing all three games in Australia and failing to score, Les Grenadières then crashed out of the 2024 Gold Cup qualifiers with a 1-0 loss to Puerto Rico. Since then, the team has gone 3-4-1 in friendlies, and morale has clearly suffered.

Gone is the explosiveness and cohesion of the late 2010s and early 2020s, when the young team showed promise, hunger and unity. What remains are glimpses of individual brilliance—especially from the likes of Dumornay, Jeudy and Louis —but no collective spark.

Canada’s goals exposed Haiti’s ongoing defensive fragility. In the second match, midfielder Jessie Fleming outmuscled Pierre-Louis to cross to an unmarked Evelyne Viens, who easily scored.

The absence of longtime captain Nérilia Mondesir and star goalkeeper Kerly Théus worsened the defensive issues. Their non-inclusion remains unexplained, despite Théus not having played for the team since February 2024, and Mondésir being listed for the Canada games.

Theus’ replacement under Haiti’s goal, 19-year-old Kaïna César Pietrus, showed her inexperience. Though not solely responsible for the goals conceded, she lacked command in the box and was hesitant off her line.

Coaching carousel and lack of structure

Inexperienced French coach Malou Quignette, appointed in September 2024, has yet to solidify a game plan. He holds a 3W-4L-1D record, but with little infrastructure or support, his job has been far from stable. The women’s team has had five different coaches since 2018, eroding any tactical continuity.

In the past, many of Haiti’s players trained together daily at Camp Nous in Croix-des-Bouquets. Now, that facility is out of commission after being taken over by armed gangs. Players are scattered across clubs overseas and rarely train together before matches, further weakening chemistry. 

Haiti’s women’s soccer team is running like a system in decline.

After the friendlies, the FHF has yet to announce upcoming matches. But time is running out. The CONCACAF qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup begin in October 2025. Without a clear plan, consistent leadership and institutional support, Haiti risks squandering the gains made by this talented generation.

The window to correct courses is narrowing. The double loss to Canada isn’t just a statistical defeat—it’s a cautionary signal. Without intervention and investment, the story of this golden generation could end as a missed opportunity rather than a sustained success.

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