Savoy: Chad must build for the future despite World Cup qualifying woes

Chad national team coach Raoul Savoy said his players will be focusing on the future as they look to rebuild after a dreadful 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign to date. The well-traveled Swiss coach took charge of Les Sao in mid-August 2025 on a two-year contract ahead of their Group I matches against Ghana and Madagascar in September.

The former Central African Republic and Gambia coach told local Chadian press that Chad’s World Cup qualifying hopes had ended with four games still to play, and the focus must now shift to the future. “We are already eliminated. These four remaining matches will be tough. If we get results, so much the better, but if not, we must take the positives and move forward to build something.”

Chad have lost all of their qualifying games so far, conceding 15 goals, and sit bottom of the group with zero points. For the first time in a year, they will play a home match at the Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya, where Ghana will be their first opponent on September 4. The Chad Football Federation has struggled to convince foreign-based players to join the national team after a rift broke out a few months ago.

Savoy stressed that playing at home does not guarantee victory. “We must not think that, because we are playing at home or because we have a new coach and a new federation, we will beat everyone.”

Savoy has begun preparations with locally based players but is expected to add foreign-based players ahead of the Black Stars clash.