Haiti National Team Returns Home Under Tight Security

Members of the Haitian national football team have returned to the capital under tight security to celebrate their World Cup participation, following the team's historic qualification for the tournament last November.

Although the Haitians lost every match in their group at the global championship, Haiti managed to score two goals against Morocco in their final game. The ongoing celebrations in the country offer a brief distraction from deepening poverty and escalating gang violence.

Duckens Nazon, alongside teammates Martin Expérience and Josué Duverger, landed in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday. They were escorted to several locations in a black car with tinted windows, as fans eagerly tried to catch a glimpse and take photos. The players held closed-door meetings with government officials, including the Ministers of Tourism and Culture.

Several dozen supporters gathered outside, straining to see the footballers in hopes of getting a picture with them.

One of the visited sites was the National Pantheon Museum of Haiti, located in an area that was, until recently, controlled by criminal gangs. Armed groups are still believed to control approximately 70% of Port-au-Prince.

The area was heavily guarded, much to the disappointment of fans who wished to greet the players.

“The footballers wanted to come and talk to us, but we were prevented from seeing them,” said Samuel Jean, who was among the group of supporters outside the museum.

The heightened security measures caused discontent among fans, who had anticipated an open-top bus tour of the city. However, it was canceled at the last minute without explanation.