The Albany Gazette - World Cup heroes 'ambassadors Haiti sorely needs', says coach

"Even my wife said to me: 'What are you doing, Seb?'" Migne told AFP on Wednesday when recalling the moment he accepted the Haiti job in March 2024.

What the 52-year-old Frenchman has done subsequently is build a competitive team in the face of a major political, security and humanitarian crisis, and guide them to next summer's tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada following Tuesday's 2-0 win over Nicaragua.

"I saw some images on social media, it was madness in Haiti," Migne said.

These scenes of joy echoed those on the pitch at the Ergilio Hato Stadium in Curacao, where Haiti play for security reasons.

"Everyone was out on the streets. My players will be wonderful ambassadors for a country that sorely needs them. Haiti is not an easy place, with a people who are suffering and don't have many opportunities to celebrate," Migne added.

After the final whistle, the players and staff gathered in the centre of the pitch, eyes glued to their phones, waiting for the end of Costa Rica's match with Honduras.

Haiti needed the sides to draw for them to qualify for just their second-ever World Cup appearance.

Once Costa Rica and Honduras finished goalless, "everything exploded, with people running in all directions", Migne said.

Migne himself struggled to contain his emotions after achieving "every footballer's Holy Grail".

He went to the 2022 World Cup as Rigobert Song's assistant with Cameroon, but this time he will be the man in charge.

- 'Shake up' -

The Frenchman has so far been unable to step foot in Haiti as the capital Port-au-Prince is mostly under the control of gangs, who forced the then-prime minister Ariel Henry to resign at the beginning of 2024.

But he will get the chance to make the trip early next year when the local championship restarts and he can take a look at the local talent.

"The Haitian people are waiting for a sign, and we're going to show them that we're here," Migne promised.

This achievement is the reward for over 18 months of graft in which he "took up his pilgrim's staff to convince dual nationals to join the adventure" and worked to improve conditions for the team.

"Before signing, I scouted them, I established the potential of players such as Ruben Providence and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde," Migne explained.

"I tried to convince them, I also tried to shake up the old guard, pushing them into a corner, and I moved some of them on. I felt there was something to be done."

He brought on board left winger Providence, one of the goalscorers against Nicaragua, as well as Wolves midfielder Bellegarde for this final qualifying phase.

Migne also coaxed Burnley centre-half and former Belgian youth international Hannes Delcroix into the fold, amongst others.

To persuade dual nationals, Migne "sometimes travelled, sometimes used video calls, I often had the families, sometimes the brother who acts as an agent, it was a long process," he recounted.

But Migne's recruitment drive is not over, with the chance to play in the World Cup a potential draw for players such as Sunderland's Wilson Isidor or former Crystal Palace forward Odsonne Edouard.

(Y.Harris--TAG)