The 2026 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U-14 Boys Challenge got underway on August 17, 2026 at the Cap Cana Sports City complex in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Haiti’s young national squad, nicknamed the Grenadiers, made an unforgettable opening statement with a dominant 5-2 victory over French Guiana’s Yana Dòkò side.
Leading the charge for Haiti was attacking standout Jodley Sheeck Delmas, who delivered a once-in-a-tournament performance by finding the back of the net four times, powering his side to an opening win that puts Haiti atop Group B in the provisional standings heading into the second round of group matches.
The first breakthrough for Haiti came just 10 minutes into the fixture, when winger Wensley Dumorne whipped in a precise cross that forward Jerry Petit-Homme guided under the opposing crossbar to put Haiti up 1-0. Sixteen minutes later, Petit-Homme turned from goalscorer to provider, playing a pinpoint free kick into the path of Delmas, who volleyed home to double Haiti’s lead to 2-0.
French Guiana responded in the 37th minute, when Railey Jean Marie converted a penalty to cut the deficit to 2-1, but Delmas quickly restored Haiti’s two-goal advantage five minutes before halftime, curling a spectacular free kick into the net from a tight, difficult angle to make the score 3-1.
Just before the break, Haiti was awarded a second penalty, but Ronelson Pelé Janvier’s strike was turned away by French Guiana goalkeeper Dos Anjos. Delmas did not let the missed chance dampen his momentum, however: just one minute into the second half, he controlled a short corner, cut inside a covering defender, and fired a powerful shot past the keeper to complete his hat trick and push Haiti’s lead to 4-1.
French Guiana pulled another goal back in the 64th minute, when Railey Berg Jean Louis pounced on a loose ball in the 18-yard box to make the score 4-2. But Delmas put the result beyond all doubt four minutes later, unleashing a blistering long-range strike from outside the penalty area that found the top corner, closing out his four-goal haul and sealing the 5-2 final score for Haiti.
Haiti’s starting lineup for the opening fixture featured 10 players from domestic Haitian clubs, with one addition based in the United States: starting goalkeeper Benoît Athan Pierre of NEFC (USA), Marc-Evens Lubin of Ideal FC, Kendy Dolbrun of Flamengo FC, Eddyson Paul-Jean of EFAT, Cedric Claremond of Les Rouleurs FC, Marvens Fenelon of La Reserve, Woodney Charleston of SLGA, Wensley Dumorne of MERCURE, Delmas of EXAFOOT, Janvier of Les Rouleurs FC, and Petit-Homme of FC Toro.
Following the opening win, Haiti sits alone at the top of Group B’s provisional standings with three points from one match, holding a +3 goal difference after scoring five and conceding two. Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago each sit on one point after drawing their opening fixture 1-1, while French Guiana sits at the bottom of the group with zero points and a -3 goal difference after their opening defeat.
The young Grenadiers will look to build on their strong opening when they face their next Group B opponent, Trinidad and Tobago’s Young Warriors, on Tuesday, August 18 at 12:00 PM local and Haitian time, at the same Cap Cana Sports City venue. Haiti will wrap up their group stage campaign against Puerto Rico on August 19. All matches from the 2026 CFU Challenge are broadcast live for free on the CFU’s official YouTube channel.