Chadian Football Federation: Governance, Ban, and Recovery in African Football
What Is the Chadian Football Federation?
The Chadian Football Federation (Fédération Tchadienne de Football Association - FTFA) is the official body that runs soccer in Chad. It was founded on January 1, 1962, and became a member of FIFA and CAF in 1964. Its job is simple: organize football at every level in the country, from youth leagues to the national team. It runs the top division, LINAFOOT, the Chad Cup, and youth competitions. It also picks the players for Les Sao, Chad’s national team, and handles everything from referee assignments to international match scheduling.
How the Federation Is Structured
The FTFA isn’t just one person making decisions. It has a formal structure designed to keep things running smoothly. At the top is the General Assembly, made up of representatives from clubs and regional associations. They vote on big changes like rules or budgets. Below them is the Executive Committee - 20 people total. That includes one president, two vice presidents, a treasurer, a general secretary, and 17 other members. As of 2025, Oloy Hassan TAHIR is president, Mahamat Adoum TAROUMA is vice president, and Baba Ahmat BABA handles day-to-day operations as general secretary.
There are also separate committees for audits, discipline, elections, and appeals. These aren’t just paperwork roles - they’re meant to prevent corruption and ensure fair play. The General Secretariat handles all the admin work: paying bills, managing contracts, printing match programs. Without this structure, the federation would collapse under its own weight.
The FIFA Ban and Why It Happened
In March 2021, the Chadian government stepped in and dissolved the FTFA. They replaced the elected leaders with government appointees. That broke one of FIFA’s most basic rules: no political interference in football. FIFA’s statutes are clear - national federations must be independent. When Chad’s government took control, FIFA had no choice but to act.
By April 2021, Chad was suspended. That meant Les Sao couldn’t play in World Cup qualifiers. Clubs couldn’t enter CAF tournaments. International referees wouldn’t travel there. The ban wasn’t a punishment - it was a protection. FIFA doesn’t let governments use football as a political tool. Chad’s national team, which had been trying to qualify for the World Cup since the 1980s, was frozen out of competition for four years.
Chad’s National Team: Les Sao’s Struggles and High Points
Les Sao - named after the ancient Sao civilization - has never made it to the World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations. Their highest FIFA ranking was 97th in 2016. Their lowest? 190th in 1997. As of early 2025, they’re ranked 175th. That’s not because they lack talent. It’s because they’ve been stuck in cycles of instability.
They’ve had some bright moments. In 2014, they won the CEMAC Cup, beating neighbors like Cameroon and Gabon. They were runners-up in 2015. Their biggest win? A 5-0 thrashing of São Tomé and Príncipe in 1976 and again in 1999. Their worst loss? An 11-0 defeat to Congo in 1964. That’s the kind of result that haunts a team for decades.
Current captain Casimir Ninga and record goalscorer Ezechiel N’Douassel - with 14 goals and 49 caps - are the faces of the modern team. Their coach, Tahir Gardia, inherited a squad with little international exposure. But with the ban lifted, he finally has a chance to build something real.
The Road Back: Reinstatement in 2025
The suspension lasted until March 12, 2025. That’s when FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with Oloy Hassan TAHIR, the newly elected FTFA president. The meeting wasn’t a photo op - it was a final checkpoint. FIFA needed proof that Chad’s government had stepped back and that the federation was truly independent again.
The new leadership had to prove they’d removed all government appointees, re-elected officials through proper voting, and restored the original structure. They also had to commit to transparent finances and fair elections. Once FIFA confirmed all that, the ban was lifted. Chad was allowed back into the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Les Sao played their first official match in over four years shortly after.
Domestic Football: LINAFOOT and the Challenges
Inside Chad, football runs on grit, not infrastructure. LINAFOOT, the top league, has 14 teams, mostly from N’Djamena. Outside the capital, there are no professional pitches, no paid coaches, no youth academies. Many players work regular jobs during the day and train at night. The Chad Cup is the only national knockout tournament, and it’s the one competition that still draws crowds.
Women’s football exists, but it’s underfunded and barely organized. Youth leagues are run by volunteers. The federation doesn’t have the budget to pay for travel, let alone equipment. Most teams play on dirt fields. When it rains, matches get canceled. The federation’s biggest challenge isn’t politics anymore - it’s survival.
What Comes Next for Chadian Football?
Reinstatement is just the first step. Now the FTFA has to prove it can stay independent. The next president must be elected fairly, not appointed by the government. The budget must be transparent. The league needs investment - not just from FIFA grants, but from private sponsors. Local businesses need to see value in backing football.
Chad’s geography makes things harder. It’s a huge country with poor roads and little electricity. Getting teams from the north to the south for matches can take days. Some clubs have never played away from home. The federation needs to start building regional hubs - training centers, small stadiums, coaching clinics.
For the first time in decades, there’s real hope. Les Sao is back on the international map. The youth are watching. And if the FTFA can keep its independence, Chad might one day qualify for a major tournament. Not because of luck - but because the system finally works.
Stadiums, History, and Regional Context
Chad’s national team plays at the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno in N’Djamena. It’s named after the former president who died in April 2021 - the same month FIFA banned Chad. The stadium holds about 20,000 people, but it’s outdated. Lights flicker. Seats are cracked. The dressing rooms are barely functional. Still, it’s the only venue in the country that meets international standards.
Chad is part of UNIFFAC, the Central African football union. That means they play mostly against neighbors like Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, and the Central African Republic. Those matches are intense. The region is competitive, and the stakes are high. But without proper infrastructure, Chad has struggled to keep up.
Why This Matters Beyond Chad
The FTFA’s story isn’t unique. In many African nations, football is a battleground for power. Governments see national teams as symbols of pride - and tools for control. But when politics takes over, the game suffers. FIFA’s suspension of Chad was a reminder: football belongs to the people, not the state.
Chad’s recovery offers a blueprint. When leadership is chosen by the clubs, not the cabinet, football thrives. When budgets are open, trust returns. When players are paid fairly, talent grows. Chad’s next challenge isn’t winning a World Cup - it’s building a system that lasts.
When was the Chadian Football Federation banned by FIFA?
FIFA banned the Chadian Football Federation in April 2021 after the Chadian government dissolved the federation and replaced its elected leaders with political appointees. This violated FIFA’s rule against government interference in football governance.
Is the Chadian Football Federation back in FIFA now?
Yes. On March 12, 2025, FIFA officially reinstated the Chadian Football Federation after confirming that the government had stepped back from its operations and that the federation had restored its independent leadership structure under President Oloy Hassan TAHIR.
What is the top football league in Chad?
The top league in Chad is called LINAFOOT, also known as the Championnat National. It features 14 teams, mostly from the capital, N’Djamena, and is organized by the Chadian Football Federation.
Has Chad ever qualified for the World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations?
No. Despite participating in World Cup qualifiers since the 1980s, the Chad national team, Les Sao, has never qualified for either the FIFA World Cup or the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Who is the current president of the Chadian Football Federation?
As of 2025, the president of the Chadian Football Federation is Oloy Hassan TAHIR. He took office after the federation was reinstated by FIFA and met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to confirm its return to good standing.
Where does the Chadian national team play its home matches?
The Chadian national team plays its home matches at the Stade Olympique Maréchal Idriss Déby Itno in N’Djamena, the capital city. The stadium is named after Chad’s former president, who died in 2021.
What is the highest FIFA ranking Chad has ever achieved?
Chad’s highest FIFA ranking was 97th, achieved in April 2016. Their lowest was 190th in 1997, and as of early 2025, they are ranked 175th.
Did Chad win any regional tournaments?
Yes. The Chadian national team won the CEMAC Cup in 2014 and were runners-up in 2015. They also finished as runners-up in the UDEAC Championship in 1986 and 1987.
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