CAF Football: Chad's Football Federation, LINAFOOT, and the Fight for International Relevance

When people talk about CAF football, the collective football ecosystem governed by the Confederation of African Football. Also known as African football, it includes everything from World Cup qualifiers to local leagues struggling to stay alive. Most focus on Nigeria, Senegal, or Egypt—but the real story often lies in the places fighting just to keep the game alive. Take the Chadian Football Federation, the governing body for football in Chad, also known by its French acronym FTFA. It’s not just a sports organization—it’s a symbol of resilience in a country where football is the only thing that sometimes unites people.

Chad’s national team has never made it to a World Cup. But that’s not the biggest story. Between 2021 and 2025, the FIFA ban on Chad, a suspension imposed due to government interference in the federation’s operations. Also known as FTFA suspension, it cut off funding, international matches, and youth development programs. While the ban was lifted, the damage stuck. The LINAFOOT, Chad’s top-tier domestic league. Also known as Ligue Nationale de Football, it’s the heartbeat of local football—but it’s been abandoned before, like in 2017, when teams stopped playing because players hadn’t been paid in months. No sponsors. No stadium maintenance. No reliable schedules. These aren’t just administrative failures—they’re human stories. Players who train on dusty fields, coaches who work second jobs, kids who dream of playing but have no youth academies to join.

What does this mean for fans of CAF football? It means the continent’s game isn’t just about stars and trophies. It’s about survival. It’s about rebuilding trust after political meddling. It’s about a federation that lost its way and is now trying to find it again. The posts below don’t just report on Chad’s football—they show you the real conditions behind the headlines: the financial collapse, the broken infrastructure, the quiet efforts to bring the game back. You’ll see how a single ban can ripple through an entire system. You’ll understand why some leagues vanish without warning. And you’ll get the full picture of what’s at stake when a nation’s football identity is on the line.