Chadian Football: The FTFA, FIFA Ban, and the Fight to Rebuild African Soccer

When you hear Chadian Football Federation, the governing body for soccer in Chad, responsible for the national team Les Sao and the LINAFOOT league. Also known as FTFA, it’s the only organization that can officially enter Chad’s teams into African and global competitions. In 2021, FIFA suspended FTFA because the Chadian government stepped in to control appointments and funding—something FIFA bans to protect sports independence. That suspension lasted until March 2025. For over four years, Chad’s national team couldn’t play in World Cup qualifiers, Africa Cup of Nations matches, or even friendly games against neighbors. Players trained without official support. Coaches worked without contracts. Fans had no live broadcasts. This wasn’t just a delay—it was a collapse of structure.

The fallout hit hard. Without FTFA’s recognition, local clubs couldn’t access international funding. Youth academies lost sponsorships. Players who wanted to move abroad had no certified paperwork. Even basic equipment became harder to import because banks froze transactions linked to football. Meanwhile, LINAFOOT, Chad’s top domestic league, which runs from March to November and includes teams like Elect-Sport and Foullah Edifice, struggled to stay alive. Matches were played in underfunded stadiums with broken lights and no media coverage. The Chad national team, known as Les Sao, which has never qualified for a World Cup or Africa Cup of Nations, became a symbol of what happens when politics overrides sport. Their last official match before the ban was in 2020. When the ban lifted, they had to restart from scratch—no rankings, no preparation, no funding.

Rebuilding isn’t just about hiring new leadership. It’s about fixing broken systems: training referees, updating player registrations, opening bank accounts for football funds, and convincing FIFA that the government won’t interfere again. The new FTFA board is made up of people with no political ties, and they’re working with CAF to bring back regional tournaments. But the damage runs deep. Many young players never got proper coaching. Some left the country for better opportunities in Nigeria or Cameroon. Others quit football entirely. The road back won’t be fast. But for the first time in years, there’s a plan. And that’s more than Chad’s football had for a long time.

What you’ll find below are two detailed posts that break down exactly how FTFA fell, how it got back in, and what’s still at stake. No fluff. Just facts about the ban, the people involved, and what’s next for soccer in Chad.