Chad national football team

The Chad national football team (Arabic: منتخب تشاد لكرة القدم, French: Équipe du Tchad de football), nicknamed Les Sao (Arabic: ساو), represents Chad in international football and is controlled by the Chadian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country. The team has never qualified for the World Cup finals or Africa Cup of Nations. Home matches are played at the Idriss Mahamat Ouya Stadium.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] In April 2021, FIFA banned the Chad national football team from participating in global football over the Chadian government's interference with the Chadian Football Federation.[13]

Chad
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Les Sao
AssociationFédération Tchadienne de Football Association (FTFA)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationUNIFFAC
(Central Africa)
Head coachKevin Nicaise
CaptainEzechiel N'Douassel[1][2]
Most capsEzechiel N'Douassel (49)
Top scorerEzechiel N'Douassel (14)
Home stadiumStade Idriss Mahamat Ouya
FIFA codeCHA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 181 Steady (15 February 2024)[3]
Highest97 (April 2016)
Lowest190 (June–September 1997)
First international
 Chad 2–2 Niger 
(Abidjan, Ivory Coast; 25 December 1961)
Biggest win
 Chad 5–0 São Tomé and Príncipe 
(Libreville, Gabon; June 29, 1976)
 Chad 5–0 São Tomé and Príncipe 
(Libreville, Gabon; 10 November 1999)
Biggest defeat
 Congo 11–0 Chad 
(Congo; 28 March 1964)

History edit

The Chadian Football Federation was founded in 1962 and became affiliated to FIFA and CAF in 1988.

Chad's national football team did not play a big role in world football until the 1990s. They did not enter any qualifiers for Continental or World Cups until the early 1990s when they played their first qualifying matches for the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Senegal.[14] Until then, they played mostly friendly matches and minor cups, mostly with African teams.

The national team had a difficult start − the first match they ever played was in the L'Amitié Tournament, which took place in Senegal in 1963, and it was a 2–1 defeat to Liberia. Soon after, they suffered a 6–2 loss to Dahomey (now Benin).

The Chad national football team never qualified for either the Africa Cup of Nations or the World Cup. Their first participation in the World Cup qualifiers was in 2000 when they were eliminated in the first round by Liberia, losing 0–1 at home, and playing 0–0 away. They were coached by Marcel Mao. Their next attempt was in 2003, under Yann Djim, but they were eliminated by Angola. They won their first home game when Francis Oumar Belonga scored a hat trick, 3–1. They lost their away match 2–0, and went no further. The qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup brought more matches because they played in a group phase together with Mali, Sudan and Congo. They finished at the bottom of the group, with six points (two wins and four losses).

In the qualifying competition for the 2014 World Cup, Chad faced Tanzania in a first-round playoff. Tanzania advanced despite shockingly losing 1–0 at home at Dar es Salaam's National Stadium. The Taifa Stars were tipped for an emphatic victory over the visitors, having won the first-leg 2–1 in N'Djamena. Chad stunned the home side three minutes after the break when Mahamat Ahmat Labo struck to silence the home crowd. But Tanzania managed to progress to the next round thanks to the away goals rule as they were tied 2–2 on aggregate.

Chad played against Malawi in the qualifiers for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. Chad won the first leg match 3–2, but lost 2–0 in Blantyre to be eliminated with an aggregate score of 4–3.[15]

In the qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, Malawi was the opponent once again. Chad lost 2–0 in the first leg at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre, but they won 3–1 in at Idriss Mahamat Ouya Stadium in N'Djamena, losing on the away goals rule. Forward Robin Ngalande turned into a savior for Malawi when he came off the bench to score a crucial late goal.

The biggest achievement for Chad so far is a CEMAC Cup (Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa) title in 2014, after beating Congo 3–2 in the final on December 14 in Bata, Equatorial Guinea. French-born Emmanuel Trégoat managed the team.[16] Their previous best was a second place in the 2005 edition, when they lost to Cameroon in the final.[17]

Les Sao had a disappointing start into their qualifying campaign for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, losing 2–0 to Nigeria and slumping to a 5–1 defeat at home against Egypt. But it was then that things took a turn for the better, as coach Moudou Kouta, who was in charge of the side on an interim basis, took the team to an unexpected victory against Sierra Leone in the first round of the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup. Les Sao won 1–0[18] at home and even though they were beaten 2–1[19] in the return leg, they advanced to the second round of the qualifiers on away goals. Chad sensationally defeated Egypt 1–0 at home in the second round before falling to a 4–0 defeat in Alexandria three days later.

In March 2016, the Chadian Football Federation announced they were withdrawing from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification due to financial problems. The team was subsequently banned from entering the following edition, meaning they would play no official games for over three years until September 2019, when Chad lost 1–3 at home to Sudan in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification. A month later Les Sao defeated Liberia on penalties to reach the Group Stage of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.

In March 2021, the Chadian government dissolved the Chadian Football Federation, leaving Chad facing a likely ban under FIFA regulations that prevent governments from interfering in the running of a country's football team.[20] In April 2021, FIFA announced an indefinite ban from global football, citing the Chadian government's interference.[13] Due to this decision, CAF disqualified Chad from its participation in the 2021 AFCON qualifiers.[21]

Kits edit

Kit provider Period
  Salamant 1974–1979
  Mitre 1980–1992
  Fila 1993–2000
  Adidas 2001–2020
  Kipsta 2020–2021
  Anta 2021–2022
  Macron 2022–present

During the independence of Chad, the team competed in international matches and played in a blue shirt, blue shorts, and red socks. These are the national colours of the French flag. In the 1970s, Chad's home colors changed to blue-yellow-red. Their first away kit in 1960 was white shirt, red shorts, and white socks. In 1980, the away kit color changed into red shirt, blue shorts, and yellow socks.

Results and fixtures edit

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023 edit

17 October Friendly Sudan   1–0   Chad Taif, Saudi Arabia
19:00 UTC+3 Report Stadium: King Fahd Sports City
20 October Friendly Chad   1–1   Sudan Taif, Saudi Arabia
19:00 UTC+3 Report Stadium: King Fahd Sports City
17 November 2026 World Cup Qualification Mali   3–1   Chad Bamako, Mali
19:00 UTC±0
Report Stadium: Stade du 26 Mars
Referee: Ahmad Imtehaz Heeralall (Mauritius)
20 November 2026 World Cup Qualification Chad   0–3   Madagascar Oujda, Morocco
20:00 UTC+1 Report
Stadium: Stade municipal d'Oujda
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Tewodros Mitiku (Ethiopia)

2024 edit

22 March 2025 AFCON qualification Chad   1–0   Mauritius
26 March 2025 AFCON qualification Mauritius   1–2
(1–3 agg.)
  Chad
Note: Chad won 3–1 on aggregate.

Coaching history edit

Players edit

Current squad edit

The following players have been called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Mali and Madagascar on 17 and 20 November 2023.[31]

Caps and goals current as of 20 November 2023 after the match against Madagascar.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Gabin Allah-Batnan (2000-02-19) 19 February 2000 (age 24) 7 0   Coton Sport
1GK Eli Matthieu Adaoussou (1993-11-11) 11 November 1993 (age 30) 0 0   Renaissance
1GK Serge Diguel (1989-06-26) 26 June 1989 (age 34) 0 0   Aigle Royal Menoua

2DF Ahmat Abderamane (1993-01-01) 1 January 1993 (age 31) 13 3   Renaissance
2DF Aubin Mbaïgolmem (1994-10-22) 22 October 1994 (age 29) 5 0   Foullah Edifice
2DF Fabrice Djimhoue (1996-08-31) 31 August 1996 (age 27) 3 0   PSI N'Djamena
2DF Moral Djimhotoum (2004-12-20) 20 December 2004 (age 19) 2 0   Elect-Sport
2DF Acyl Mbogo (2004-11-28) 28 November 2004 (age 19) 2 0   Foullah Edifice
2DF Abdallah Abdelrazakh (1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 (age 30) 1 0   Al-Fao
2DF Gabkala Daba (2004-02-01) 1 February 2004 (age 20) 0 0   PSI N'Djamena
2DF Bambara Djela (2004-03-22) 22 March 2004 (age 20) 0 0   Elect-Sport
2DF Charles Tchouplaou (2001-01-30) 30 January 2001 (age 23) 0 0   Colombe Sportive

3MF Éric Mbangossoum (2000-05-26) 26 May 2000 (age 23) 11 0   Union de Touarga
3MF Abderahim Aboubakar (1997-10-27) 27 October 1997 (age 26) 5 0   USON Mondeville
3MF Guiguiban Loubandem (1991-06-03) 3 June 1991 (age 32) 4 0   JS Ouidah
3MF Frederic Djoeta (2003-09-12) 12 September 2003 (age 20) 2 0   Elect-Sport
3MF David Ramadingaye (1989-09-14) 14 September 1989 (age 34) 2 0   KTP
3MF Joël Djingar (2000-10-24) 24 October 2000 (age 23) 0 0   Renaissance
3MF Issa Hassaballah (2003-09-24) 24 September 2003 (age 20) 0 0   PSI N'Djamena
3MF Ousman Hissein (2003-10-13) 13 October 2003 (age 20) 0 0   PSI N'Djamena

4FW Bakhit Djibrine (1995-04-17) 17 April 1995 (age 28) 16 0   Foullah Edifice
4FW Marius Mouandilmadji (1997-01-22) 22 January 1997 (age 27) 11 2   Samsunspor
4FW Brahim Mahamat (1995-11-13) 13 November 1995 (age 28) 6 0   Olympique Alès
4FW Amine Hiver (1998-04-11) 11 April 1998 (age 25) 4 0   Aigle Royal Menoua
4FW Ahmat Adam Mahamat (2005-08-01) 1 August 2005 (age 18) 2 0   Foullah Edifice
4FW Ahmat Moussa Youssouf (2003-09-18) 18 September 2003 (age 20) 2 0   Paris B
4FW Adoum Adam Oumar (1997-01-01) 1 January 1997 (age 27) 0 0   Renaissance

Recent call-ups edit

The following players have been called up for Chad in the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Christian Ramadjingaye (2000-02-02) 2 February 2000 (age 24) 0 0   Aiglons v.   Sudan; 20 October 2023

DF Abdelaziz Issa (1995-01-02) 2 January 1995 (age 29) 9 0   Renaissance v.   Sudan; 20 October 2023
DF Marvin Assane (1993-07-30) 30 July 1993 (age 30) 1 0   Dietikon v.   Sudan; 20 October 2023
DF Yann Moukhtar (1991-04-29) 29 April 1991 (age 32) 0 0   US Le Pays du Valois v.   Sudan; 20 October 2023
DF Keyba Jonas (2000-12-20) 20 December 2000 (age 23) 0 0   Aiglons v.   Sudan; 20 October 2023

MF Haroun Tchaouna (2000-05-14) 14 May 2000 (age 23) 1 0   Jura Dolois v.   Sudan; 20 October 2023

FW Yannick Masra (1997-10-30) 30 October 1997 (age 26) 2 0   Aiglons v.   Sudan; 20 October 2023

DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up.
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
PRE Preliminary squad.
RET Player has retired from international football.
SUS Suspended from the national team.

Player records edit

As of 20 November 2023.[32]
Players in bold are still active with Chad.

Most appearances edit

 
Ezechiel N'Douassel is the captain and the national team's most capped player and top scorer in history.
Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Ezechiel N'Douassel 49 14 2005–present
2 Léger Djimrangar 37 10 2007–2020
3 Japhet N'Doram 36 13 1989–1997
4 Armand Djerabé 34 0 2002–2011
Hilaire Kédigui 34 5 2006–2015
6 Karl Max Barthélémy 30 3 2007–2020
7 Casimir Ninga 29 5 2011–present
8 Marius Mbaiam 28 3 2003–2015
9 Constant Madtoingué 26 0 2011–2020
10 Ahmed Medego 24 4 2000–2010

Top goalscorers edit

Rank Name Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Ezechiel N'Douassel 14 49 0.29 2005–present
2 Japhet N'Doram 13 36 0.36 1989–1997
3 Léger Djimrangar 10 37 0.27 2007–2020
4 Robert Lokossimbayé 9 9 1 1999–2000
5 Hilaire Kédigui 6 34 0.18 2006–2015
6 Casimir Ninga 5 29 0.17 2011–present
7 Mahamat Labbo 4 17 0.24 2011–present
Ahmed Medego 4 24 0.17 2006–2015
9 Gaius Doumde 3 4 0.75 2005–2006
Mahamat Hissein 3 5 0.6 2003–2006
Francis Oumar Belonga 3 12 0.25 1998–2007
Misdongarde Betolngar 3 12 0.25 2006–2012
Marius Mbaiam 3 12 0.25 2003–2015
Ahmat Abderamane 3 13 0.23 2019–present
Hisseine Abana 3 15 0.2 1997–2002
Ahmat Brahim 3 22 0.14 1999–2008
Karl Max Barthélémy 3 30 0.1 2007–2020

Competitive record edit

FIFA World Cup edit

FIFA World Cup Qualification
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1958 Part of   France Part of   France
  1962 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
1966 to 1978 Did not enter Did not enter
  1982 Withdrew Withdrew
  1986 Did not enter Did not enter
  1990
  1994
  1998
    2002 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 0 1
  2006 2 1 0 1 3 3
  2010 6 2 0 4 7 11
  2014 2 1 0 1 2 2
  2018 4 2 0 2 3 6
  2022 2 0 1 1 1 3
      2026 To be determined 2 0 0 2 1 6
      2030 To be determined
  2034
Total 0/15 20 6 2 12 17 32

Africa Cup of Nations edit

Africa Cup of Nations record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
  1957 Part of   France Part of   France
  1959
  1962 Not affiliated to CAF Not affiliated to CAF
  1963
  1965 Did not enter Did not enter
  1968
  1970
  1972
  1974
  1976
  1978
  1980
  1982
  1984
  1986
  1988
  1990
  1992 Did not qualify 6 2 2 2 6 7
  1994 Withdrew during qualifying 2 0 0 2 0 5
  1996 Did not enter Did not enter
  1998
    2000 Did not qualify 2 0 2 0 1 1
  2002 2 1 0 1 4 4
  2004 4 1 1 2 4 6
  2006 2 1 0 1 3 3
  2008 6 0 2 4 3 14
  2010 6 2 0 4 7 11
    2012 8 0 3 5 7 20
  2013 2 1 0 1 3 4
  2015 2 1 0 1 3 3
  2017 Withdrew during qualifying 3 0 0 3 1 8
  2019 Banned Banned for withdrawing in 2017
  2021 Disqualified 6 0 1 5 2 12
  2023 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 2 3
  2025 To be determined To be determined
      2027
Total 0/36 51 8 12 31 42 97

Head-to-head records against other countries edit

As of 1 June 2014

Honours edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Njie brace gives Cameroon dramatic victory". cafonline.com. Confederation of African Football − CAF. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  2. ^ FIFA.com
  3. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  4. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  5. ^ Ramadane, Mahamat. "Tchad : La liste des 22 joueurs retenus pour le match contre le Nigeria". Alwihdainfo.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-09. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
  6. ^ Léger Djimrangar at National-Football-Teams.com
  7. ^ "Ligue des champions : les équipes tchadiennes éliminées". Tchadinfos.com. 1 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 September 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  8. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Marius Mbaiam". National-football-teams.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-06. Retrieved 2015-01-18.
  9. ^ "FIFA Tournaments - Players & Coaches - Karl Marx Barthélémy". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2008.
  10. ^ "Semen Padang Resmi Kontrak Striker Asal Chad". goal.com. Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  11. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Ezechiel Ndouassel". National-football-teams.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2015-01-18.
  12. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Casimir Ninga". National-football-teams.com. Archived from the original on 2018-02-24. Retrieved 2015-01-18.
  13. ^ a b "Fifa bans Chad from global football". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 2021-04-07. Retrieved 2021-04-07.
  14. ^ "World Football Elo Ratings: Chad". Eloratings.net. Archived from the original on 22 November 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
  15. ^ "Malawi rallies to beat Chad in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers". Malawi Nyasa Times. Archived from the original on 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
  16. ^ "Emmanuel Tregoat : " on s'est fait cambrioler notre vestiaire à la mi-temps, à domicile "". Archived from the original on 2020-07-14. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  17. ^ "allAfrica.com: Chad Emerge Winners of 2014 Cemac Cup". Archived from the original on 2014-12-16.
  18. ^ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ - Matches - Chad-Sierra Leone". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015.
  19. ^ "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ - Matches - Sierra Leone-Chad". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015.
  20. ^ "Chad FA disbanded, facing Fifa ban". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Political meddling gets Chad kicked out of AFCON qualifiers". panafricanfootball.com. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  22. ^ "Chad v Congo, 02 August 1998". 11v11.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  23. ^ "Congo v Chad, 16 August 1998". 11v11.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  24. ^ "International Matches 1999 - Africa". Rsssf.com. Archived from the original on 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  25. ^ "Coupe de la CEMAC 2005". Rsssf.com. Archived from the original on 2022-11-29. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  26. ^ "Do your homework Bafana". News24.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
  27. ^ ER (5 March 2007). "Coupe Cemac 2007 : Les Saos domptent les Lions A' 2 à 1". Camfoot.com.
  28. ^ "Zambia : Chad leave Zambia in a dust storm". Lusakatimes.com. 16 June 2007. Archived from the original on 12 June 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  29. ^ "TCHADSPORT - Page 17". Tchadsport.centerblog.net. Archived from the original on 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
  30. ^ "TCHADSPORT". Tchadsport.centerblog.net. Archived from the original on 2012-07-19. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  31. ^ "Final Squad". Instagram. Sao du Tchad.
  32. ^ "General Information for Chad". National Football Teams.

External links edit