On Thursday, November 6, 2025, as part of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025, our Grenadiers on the pitch of the 250 ha "Aspire zone" sports complex, pitch #3 in Doha, faced the "Three Lions" of England. A match where our Grenadiers were thrashed by England [1-8], a defeat that implicitly eliminates our Grenadiers, bottom of Group E, from the World Cup, regardless of the result against Venezuela on November 10th, the third and final group match where only honor will be at stake.

Starting lineup :

To face England, Haitian coach Eddy Cesar made four changes to the previous XI https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46139-haiti-qatar-2025-world-cup-the-pharaohs-inflict-a-heavy-defeat-on-the-grenadiers-[1-4]-video.html . Emerson Alexis (#16) starts in defense alongside Wasson Thermoncy (#3), making his second start. (#4) Dieuvens Kenson Rezil returns to his place in central defense and (#15) Rhode Phaden Louissaint starts in midfield, making his first World Cup start.

#1 Clifford Gene : Mount Pleasant Academy (Jamaica)

#3 Wasson Thermoncy : Team AFF-FFV Fribourg (Switzerland)

#4 Rezil D. Kenson : Mount Pleasant Academy (Jamaica)

#5 Miguel Joseph : Mount Pleasant Academy (Jamaica)

#7 Woodson Félix : Real Hope Academy (Haiti)

#8 Théo Lacombe : CE Sabadell FC (Spain)

#9 Nikolai Pierre : Orlando Academy (USA)

#11 Franco Celestin : Mount Pleasant Academy (Jamaica)

#15 Rhode Phaden Louissaint : Mount Pleasant Academy (Jamaica)

#16 Emerson Alexis : SLG Academie (Haiti)

#17 Zamor Medinel : SLG Academie (Haiti)

Summary :

The English "Three Lions" team proved remarkably efficient and technically dominant. It was Luca Williams-Barnett opened the scoring for England in the first minute [0-1] before Reigan Heskey doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 14th minute [0-2]. Franco Celestin pulled one back for Haiti in the 17th minute [1-2], giving the Grenadiers hope, but Reggie Walsh quickly restored their lead in the 21st minute [1-3]. The score remained unchanged at halftime.

After the break, following two substitutions for Haiti at the start of the half (Stanley Louis replaced Emerson Alexis and Djouby Jean Philippe replaced Rhode Louisaint), Alejandro Rodriguez extended the lead for the Three Lions in the 55th minute [1-4]. Three minutes later, Chizaram Ezenwata made it 5-1 for Haiti in the 58th minute, with Williams-Barnett displaying great skill to add a sixth. A goal (his brace) in the 64th minute [1-6] while Chizaram Ezenwata scored two more clinical goals in the 69th minute [1-7] and 80th minute [1-8], completing his hat trick and sealing the final scoreline in a resounding victory for our Grenadiers.

After the match, Eddy César declared, "That’s football. There are three possible results : we lose, we draw, or we win. It’s difficult to accept this result, but we will organize ourselves for the last match to achieve a more positive outcome.”

Following this crushing victory, the Haitian Football Federation wrote on its website : “We lost 8-1 against the English. A heavy defeat ! A defeat that brought tears to many eyes. A defeat that will also serve as a lesson, to rise even stronger! We entered the field with our heads held high, and we will leave it with our heads held high ! We fell, but we will..." We will rise again, and we will start again, as always! A team that came from afar, a team that held firm, a team that never gave up, that accepted to carry its burden until the final whistle! We are proud of our young Grenadiers, who fought to the very end, who gave everything for the blue and red! One team, one nation!

Goals :

England : Williams-Barnett 1’, 64’

Reigan Heskey 14’ (pen)

Reggie Walsh 21’

Alejandro Gomes 55’

Chizaram Ezenwata 58’, 69’, 80’

Haiti :

Franco Celestin 17’ (Mount Pleasant Academy - Jamaica)

Haiti Player Substitutions :

60’ Emerson LAISSE replaces Theo LACOMBE

70’ Da-Benz JACQUET replaces Woodson FELIX

87’ Macenat PROPHETE replaces Franco CELESTIN

Before the start of the second half

Stanley LOUIS replaces Emerson ALEXIS

Djouby JEAN PHILIPPE replaces Rhode LOUISSAINT

Provisional Group E Standings :

#1 Egypt : (2 matches played), 5 goals scored, 2 goals conceded, 1 #1 win, 4 points;

#2 Venezuela : (2 matches played), 4 goals scored, 3 goals conceded, 1 win, 4 points;

#3 England : (2 matches played), 8 goals scored, 1 goal conceded, 1 win, 3 points;

#4 Haiti : (2 matches played), 2 goals scored, 12 goals conceded, 0 wins, 0 points.

Match Schedule :

Monday, November 10:

Haiti vs. Venezuela (final group match)

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46160-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-46144-icihaiti-politic-president-laurent-saint-cyr-supports-our-grenadiers-in-qatar.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46139-haiti-qatar-2025-world-cup-the-pharaohs-inflict-a-heavy-defeat-on-the-grenadiers-[1-4]-video.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46062-haiti-qatar-2025-world-cup-final-selection-list-for-the-u-17-grenadiers.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46031-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45953-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45879-haiti-qatar-2025-world-cup-3rd-and-final-phase-of-preparation-list-of-players.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45741-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45674-haiti-qatar-2025-world-cup-list-of-players-preparing-for-phase-2.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45655-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45636-haiti-football-pm-handed-a-100-million-gourdes-check-to-fhf.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-45506-icihaiti-qatar-2025-world-cup-gb-group-official-sponsor-of-the-u-17-grenadiers.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45351-haiti-u-17-world-cup-qatar-2025-intensive-preparation-program.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44986-haiti-u17-world-cup-qatar-2025-haiti-knows-its-opponents-video.html

BF/ HaitiLibre