Overview:

Reporter Onz Chéry analyzes the Haitian women’s soccer team’s deterioration through their 3-0 loss to Morocco on Tuesday, raising the question: What happened to the ‘never-give-up’ Les Grenadières attitude?

Watching the Haiti-Morocco game on Tuesday night, it was hard for longtime observers to believe that just two years ago, Haiti’s women’s team was in the 2023 World Cup. The team was a beacon of hope not only amid Haiti’s struggling sports sector, but also pride for the country overall. The players were fast, strong, sharp and hungry.

But during the Oct. 28 game at Pere Jego Stadium in Casablanca, Haiti’s Women’s Team, coined Les Grenadières, were neither. Star midfielder Melchie Dumornay, who started a spectacular season with her club Olympique Lyonnes, lost the ball multiple times. Striker Nerilia Mondesir, usually composed, repeatedly bumped Moroccan players with excess force and even shouted at them once. Jennyfer Limage, a defender known for being intelligent, clumsily lost the ball in the defense.

Haiti’s resulting 3-0 loss to Morocco in the friendly match is yet another scoreline that screams ‘we’re in serious trouble.’ Their inability to complete simple passes—even as players shine at the club level—points to a deeper issue: team chemistry on and off the field. The pains also raise questions about the Haitian Football Federation (FHF) plan to build on Les Grenadières’ 2023 success. 

Now, fans and sports analysts are growing increasingly impatient with Coach Malou Quignette. Insinuating that the team is nearing rock bottom, some are demanding the federation replace Quignette with an experienced coach. 

“His tactical choices and locker room management makes him [Quignette] the first to be criticized,” sports analyst Caleb Jephte Pierre said via Facebook after the game. “FHF must react quickly to restore the team’s reputation.”

Indeed, the clock is ticking. Haiti starts the qualification phase for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in November. It will take a miracle to get the team ready by then. 

Problem seeded at last World Cup

To many observers and fans, the problem started in the 2023 World Cup, when then-head coach Nicolas Delépine made choices that sent the team home from the tournament with a 0W-0D-3L record and not scoring one single goal. Quignette, a coach who had never led a national team before, replaced him in September 2024.

Under Quignette’s leadership, Les Grenadières won only two of their last 11 games, riding on a 2W-1D-8L record and getting outscored 25-9. So far, he does not appear to have a game plan to turn things around. 

Although Haiti is in need of a tactical restoration, the problem appears to be beyond the field. It seems to be mental, judging by the players’ body language and performances. 

Concentration and cohesion are lacking 

Players lacked concentration, misplaced simple short passes and looked helpless, even frustrated. 

Known for having a ‘never-give-up’ attitude, the Haitian players looked rather desperate Tuesday. Dumornay, who was nominated for the Ballon d’Or last month, quietly stared into space instead of scrambling to get back control. Mondesir often put her head down after the team lost possession and hit a weak shot in the 89th minute.

Players also lacked cohesion, looking like they barely knew where their teammates were on the field, much less anticipate their next move. Consequently, they have trouble moving the ball from defense to midfield, leading to the first and last goals. 

Mondesir lost the ball in the defense, allowing Moroccan midfielder Imane Saoud to bang a shot past goalkeeper Kaina Pietrus in the 18th minute. Ghizlane Chebbak doubled The Lionesses’ lead in the 50th minute. In the 70th minute, Limage was in possession, but had no one to pass the ball. She attempted to dribble past a sea of Moroccan players, lost the ball and Morocco’s Najat Badri inflicted the third and last goal on Haiti.

The team called up midfielder Danielle Etienne, but Quignette did not utilize her.

Camaraderie between the players also seems to have significantly decreased. In the late 2010s and early 2020s, players often shared videos on social media of themselves dancing together. They rarely do so anymore. The impression observers are left with  is that the bond between the players on and off the field has weakened now that the players spend less time together because of fewer games.

While any issues they may have off the field can stir controversy, what is clear on the pitch is undeniable: Haiti needs help. And it needs it now if the Grenadieres are to have a prayer of returning to their 2023 glory or, at least, scoring a goal even now then.

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