Overview:
Violette Athletic Club, one of Haiti’s top-division clubs, has swept all four group-stage opponents in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup to reach the semifinals. Violette became the first Haitian club to win a Caribbean Cup group and only the second club in the tournament’s history to win all four group-stage matches, joining last year’s champion Mount Pleasant FA.
It now awaits today’s final Group B matches to learn its knockout-stage opponent.
PORT-DE-PAIX — Haiti’s Violette Athletic Club made history Tuesday becoming the first Haitian club to finish atop a group in the 2026 Concacaf Caribbean Cup after winning all four of its Group A matches.
The Port-au-Prince-based club, known as Le Vieux Tigre—French for “Old Tiger” — completed its perfect group-stage run with a 1-0 victory over Club Sando F.C. of Trinidad and Tobago at Estadio Cibao in the Dominican Republic. It advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 Concacaf Caribbean Cup with a perfect record.
“I congratulate all my players for qualifying and for their strong performances across all four matches,” Rony Attimy, Violette’s head coach, said after the match. “They showed great quality and enthusiasm toward the goal we set for this competition.”
The 12-point finish also made Violette only the second club in the tournament’s history to win all four of its group-stage matches, joining Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant FA, which did so in 2025.
The result also marked Violette’s fourth consecutive victory in its Caribbean Cup debut. The club had already secured a semifinal berth after defeating SV Broki of Suriname 2-1 on Sept. 9.
Violette finishes group stage unbeaten
Violette opened the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago’s Defence Force FC before defeating Dominican club Delfines del Este FC 1-0 and SV Broki 2-1.
Against Club Sando F.C., the teams remained scoreless until the 84th minute, when a Violette attack resulted in a goal by Sando goalkeeper Téshorne Ragoo against its own net.
The goal was initially credited to Violette defender Mikenlove Jean Jules, who was initially credited with the score in some accounts. But after video review, Concacaf officially ruled it an own goal
The victory gave Violette three clean sheets in four games so far. The club scored seven goals while only conceding one during the group stage.
Violette’s defensive effort included a standout performance from defender Jerry Anis, who recorded 10 clearances against Club Sando, the most by a Violette player in a single Caribbean Cup match, according to Concacaf.
“I congratulate all my players for qualifying and for their strong performances across all four matches. They showed great quality and enthusiasm toward the goal we set for this competition.”
Rony Attimy, Violette’s head coach
After the match, Anis said the team remained focused on the next stage.
“We came into this competition determined, Anis told Concacaf.
“We finished first in our group, and my team has conceded a single goal. “The work we’re doing has just begun, but it’s not finished yet.”
Semifinal awaits
Violette will face the runner-up from Group B in the semifinals— to be determined after final plays tonight.
Under the tournament format, the group winners host the second leg of their semifinal series. Because Haiti has been unable to host international matches due to gang-fueled violence, the Port-au-Prince club hosts its opponents in the Dominican Republic.
The semifinals are scheduled to be played over two legs next month, with first-leg matches scheduled for Oct. 13-15 and second legs for Oct. 20-22.
The reigning Haitian Football League champion, Violette, entered the Caribbean Cup as the highest-ranked Caribbean club among the participating teams, according to Concacaf’s latest club rankings.
The centenarian club now has a chance to continue its historic run in the knockout stage as it pursues a place in the Caribbean Cup final, marking its first appearance in the tournament on a high note.
“The group stage is now behind us,” Anis said. We’re going to work harder on the areas where we cannot afford to make mistakes. We are just two matches away from becoming champions. We’re preparing to take them one match at a time.”
Related
