Thu Oct 17 15:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Haiti’s Goalkeeping Woes Threaten World Cup Hopes

**CAP-HAÏTIEN** – Despite a 5-3 victory over Aruba in the CONCACAF Nations League, Haiti’s men’s soccer team exposed a critical weakness: a lack of reliable backup goalkeepers. With star goalkeeper Johny Placide sidelined, substitutes Garissone Innocent and Alexandre Pierre made several costly errors that allowed Aruba to score three avoidable goals.

The match highlighted a long-standing issue for Haiti, as Placide nears the end of his career and no clear successor has emerged. The Haitian Soccer Federation (FHF) has struggled to find a consistent and in-form backup, leaving the team vulnerable whenever Placide is unavailable.

The problem is not new. In June 2021, a crucial World Cup qualifier against Canada was lost due to a similar error by backup keeper Josué Duverger. The pattern persists, with Haiti relying on overseas players who lack consistent playing time and confidence at the club level.

Local talent, like Gooly Elien, a goalkeeper for Real Hope Football Academy, offers a potential solution. Elien, recently named to the Concacaf Caribbean Cup Best XI, faces travel and administrative barriers preventing him from being called up to the national team.

If the FHF can address these issues, local goalkeepers could provide the much-needed depth. However, until a dependable backup is found, Haiti’s World Cup hopes remain precarious. The team’s next CONCACAF Nations League match against Sint Maarten on November 15 presents a crucial opportunity to address this issue.

With Placide’s retirement looming, the FHF must find a solution, whether it’s by developing local talent or seeking out a reliable goalkeeper overseas. The team’s World Cup aspirations hinge on finding a solution before it’s too late.

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