The Seychelles Football Federation (SFF) has wrapped up the two-game assignment of its caretaker committee, which was responsible for overseeing the men’s national team. Coach Ralph Jean-Louis led the committee during the team’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Ivory Coast and Kenya.
Despite facing heavy defeats of 9-0 against Ivory Coast and 5-0 against Kenya, Jean-Louis expressed optimism in a press conference, highlighting the team’s progress despite the two challenging losses.
“We had established specific targets for the team, and in the second game, we witnessed substantial achievements in most of these areas, with the exception of scoring a goal.” said Jean-Louis. He further emphasised that the performances showcased a clear improvement within the team.
Following the conclusion of the two games, the caretaker committee presented a report to the SFF’s executive committee, leading to a decision to invite local coaches who hold License ‘A’ qualifications to apply for the head coach position.
Jean-Louis stated: “For now, we will continue with the current national team setup until a permanent appointment is made.” The primary objective is to appoint a Seychellois coach for the team, with support from a group of foreign coaches specialising in various coaching aspects such as fitness and goalkeeping.
Notably, this marked Jean-Louis’ fourth term with the national side. While he did not confirm whether he would apply for the full-time position, he mentioned that he will carefully consider it.
In the past two matches, the national team has implemented several innovative training methods and technologies. Jean-Louis explained that even with the appointment of a new coach, these methods are likely to remain, but the ultimate decision on their usage will depend on the chosen coach’s approach.
Seychelles, an archipelago located in the western Indian Ocean, introduced player trackers for the first time, allowing the measurement of various performance parameters for each player. Additionally, French fitness coach Eric Pascholski and goalkeeper coach Riffi Mandanda provided valuable assistance during the FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
