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Chadian international striker Angers, Casimir Ninga. Guillaume Souvant / AFP

After Madagascar, Burundi and Mauritania, who have tasted the joy of participating for the first time in a final phase of the CAN 2019, Chad will be well follow suit under the leadership of coach Emmanuel Tregoat.

After returning to service with Chad, Emmanuel Tregoat, the coach, hopes to live a first final phase with the Sao. The French technician, who previously coached Racing Colombes (National 3), has already managed to pass the preliminary round by leaving Liberia on penalties. It will now be battling for six days to afford the precious sesame.

" Some people tell us it's good to be here. But qualifying for the CAN playoffs alone is not an end in itself. We are ambitious. From the moment we are here, it is to win, "says the 56-year-old coach without complex.

A motivation without limits

During his first stint between 2014 and 2015, Emmanuel Tregoat led the national team to victory in the Cemac Cup in late 2014. The result was less rosy after his departure, to the point of seeing the African Football Confederation suspend the team of any competition because of his package during the 2017 CAN qualifier. Chad had thrown in the towel after three days.

Facing Namibia and Mali, Emmanuel Tregoat expects " points " to start the campaign well before challenging Guinea in August 2020. But Africa remains a complicated continent where anything can happen. " For two days we have no car to go to train and we have to manage ," says the French technician. We want to go to the CAN. There is a real mobilization behind us and the players want to live that. I have zero problem with motivation, "he says.

A fallow selection

Chad's problem remains this suspension that has completely left the selection asleep for almost four years. " The players did not see each other during this period. It's huge ! "Says Emmanuel Tregoat, who arrived at the helm just two weeks before the match against Sudan, in the frame during the qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar last September.

" I wanted to live a new adventure in Africa even though I know it's sometimes complicated. I hope to go after all six qualifying matches. There is a blow to play, even if our opponents are better positioned in the FIFA rankings , "enthuses the coach.

Moreover, after the first two qualifying meetings, Emmanuel Tregoat hopes to play friendly matches to advance the team. " There is an awareness of the authorities of Chadian football. We do not want to be left behind and we want the people to be proud of their national team , "he concludes. To push the Sao , the federation has even invited fifteen fans to travel to Namibia. A first.