Chad national team: Les Sao coach Raoul Savoy and staff haven’t been paid

Chad national team coach Raoul Savoy and his staff have not been paid since coming on board to lead Les Sao in August, according to a report from local outlet Tchadinfos.

 

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The well-traveled Swiss tactician, who experienced a similar situation during his time spent coaching the national team of the Central African Republic, has reportedly not received a single payment since taking charge six months ago.

He has been on the bench for six matches during this period, including four 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and two friendlies.

His first competitive match in charge produced a positive result as the team played Ghana to a 1-1 draw in the country’s capital of N’Djamena, a memorable occasion that saw the Central African nation host its first competitive match in six years at the recently-constructed Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno.

The achievement followed an improved administrative effort that has resulted in the re-integration of the country’s players based abroad, such as Samsunspor striker Marius Mouandilmandji, as well as the recruitment of dual national players like Young Africans players Celestin Ecua and Lassine Kouma.

But those efforts are at serious risk of being undone. With only a month before Chad kick off 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying in the preliminary stage with a two-legged tie against Burundi, uncertainty is growing as to whether their foreign coach will be around. A difficult matchup against Intamba could see the nation eliminated prior to the group stage of qualifying.

As mentioned, Savoy is familiar with this sort of situation. Unceremoniously sacked by Central African Republic despite some notable results, the coach responded by demanding €160,000 in back wages that were not honored by the country’s Ministry of Youth, Sports and Civic Education.

After his demands were ignored, the Swiss coach took his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and won his case. The CAS ruling in January ordered the CAF’s Ministry of Youth, Sports and Civic Education to pay Savoy €300,000.