Clubs
Location of Chadian clubs
| Founded | 1961 |
|---|---|
| Country | Chad |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of teams | 12 (2022) [1] |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Chad Cup |
| League cup(s) | Coupe de Ligue de N'Djaména |
| International cup(s) | Champions League Confederation Cup |
| Current champions | AS PSI (2023) |
| Most championships | Renaissance (7) Elect-Sport (7) |
| TV partners | Télé Tchad |
| Current: 2024 LINAFOOT (Chad) | |
Chad Premier League (French : Ligue Nationale de Football, also known as LINAFOOT) is a Chadian league for men's association football clubs. At the top of the Chadian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 12 clubs, it is organized under the play-off formula.
Unlike the 1st LINAFOOT edition (in 2015) organised as a full national championship and won by Gazelle FC, the last four editions were organized under the play-off formula.
Since the inception of the Chad Premier League in 1988, eight clubs have won the title: Renaissance (7), Elect-Sport (7), Tourbillon (5), Gazelle (4), Foullah Edifice (3), AS CotonTchad (2), Postel 2000 (2), Renaissance (Abéché) (2). The current champions are Elect-Sport, who won the title in 2022.
Chadian football has always been followed by the financial difficulties, making it hard to organise the competitions. For years, the main resource was the aid of one million dollars every four years by the FIFA. This aid was completely being engulfed in the organization of national and regional competitions. The national championship was being played in two stages. The first stage was the regional championship with teams from the same prefecture. The second stage was national championship, a sort of tournament between the 14 champions of the 14 prefectures. [2] The format of competition and a number of teams, however, was being changed from time to time. From season 2010 to 2014 the first division consisted of clubs from N'Djamena only. Championship is being played over a short time, usually within a week and held alongside the national cup. The leagues run over a whole year.
The season 2010 was the first one (out of five) to include the teams from N'Djamena only. The league was called Ligue de N'Djamena, too. The participating teams were: ASCOT, DGSSIE, Elect-sport, Foullah, Gazelle, Postel 2000, RFC, Toumai, Tourbillon and USM. Tourbillon FC were the champions with 38 points, 4 more than league runners-up Gazelle FC. The last placed team (USM) was relegated to D2, while the 9th team (Postel 2000) played relegation playoff. Postel 2000 played against D2 runner-up, Saccoger, and won 1–0, so both teams remained at previous level.
Season 2011 was the second one to include teams from N'Djamena only. The participating teams were: ASCOT, DGSSIE, Elect-sport, Foullah, Gazelle, Geyser, Postel 2000, RFC, Toumai and Tourbillon. Foullah Edifice were the champions with 43 points, 8 more than league runners-up Tourbillon. The last placed team (Geyser) was relegated to D2, while the 9th team (Toumai) played relegation playoff. Toumai stayed in the league, however they did not enter the 2012 season, so the next league edition had 9 teams only. [3]
The participating teams in 2012 were: ASCOT, DGSSIE, Elect-sport, Foullah, Gazelle, GGMIA, Postel 2000, RFC and Tourbillon. Gazelle were league champions; GGMIA were relegated to D2.
The participating teams in 2013 were: ASCOT, DGSSIE, Elect-sport, Farcha, Foullah, Gazelle, Postel 2000, RFC, Tourbillon and USM. Foullah were 2013 league champions; USM were relegated to D2.
The participating teams in 2014 were: ASCOT, DGSSIE, Eglise 12, Elect-sport, Farcha, Foullah, Gazelle, Postel 2000, RFC and Tourbillon. Foullah were 2014 league champions; DGSSIE, Eglise 12, Farcha, Postel 2000 and Tourbillon were relegated to D2.
From season 2015, national league system went through many changes. LINAFOOT started operating the league. [4] The new system of 12 clubs from all over the country was introduced as well. [5] Clubs that played in the first division were: AS Lycod Doba, AS Mirim Mongo, AS Wadi Fira, ASCOT Moundou, AS CotonTchad, Elect-Sport FC, FC Kebbi, Foullah Edifice FC, Gazelle FC, Renaissance FC, Renaissance FC (Abéché), AS Kokaga. Gazelle FC won the championship. [6] This edition of LINAFOOT was marked by many controversies, which led to proclaiming AS CotonTchad league champion, and then later giving Gazelle FC champion title back. [7]
In season 2016 championship was interrupted after only 5 rounds, and no Chadian clubs represented the country in continental competitions.
Following financial difficulties and the lack of sponsors, FTFA decided to implement the new format of the national championship, which would lower the costs. In 2017 FIFA proposed to FTFA a new championship format, which FTFA accepted. The new formula of the national football championship took place in two phases. The first phase, called a zonal phase, consistsed of three zones. Zone 1 consisted of six clubs from N'Djamena (RFC, Gazelle, Tourbillon, Elect-Sport, Foullah Ediffice and Ascot), Zone 2 consisted of the clubs from Sarh, Koumra, Doba, Moundou, Pala and Bongor, Zone 3 included the clubs of Moussoro, Ati, Biltine, Mongo, Salamat and Abéché. At the end of the zonal confrontations, three clubs in Zone 2 and Zone 3 have joined the 4 qualifiers in Zone 1 for the second phase of the championship. [1] The 5th and 6th of the final ranking should have been officially relegated to lower division.
The 2018 LINAFOOT was the 2nd season of the LINAFOOT. The season started on 15 September 2018 and concluded on 7 October 2018. The twelve teams were divided into two groups of six teams. [8] [9] [10] The matches were played at three stadiums: Stade d'Académie de Farcha, Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya and Stade de Paris-Congo. [11] All matches were being played at 03:30 p.m. local time. Elect-Sport FC won their fifth Chadian title. Abou Deco (AS CotonTchad) was the league topscorer with 14 goals; Mbangousoum Éric was voted the best player; Francis Oumar Belonga (Elect-Sport FC) was voted the best coach.
The 2019 LINAFOOT was the 3rd season of the LINAFOOT. Elect-Sport FC won their sixth Chadian title. Goyam César (Avenir Sarh) was the league topscorer with 10 goals; Brahim Ngaroudal was voted the best player; Adoum Deffallah (Elect-Sport FC) was voted best goalkeeper; Francis Oumar Belonga (Elect-Sport FC) was voted the best coach. [12]
The 2020 LINAFOOT was the 4th season of the LINAFOOT. Delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the season started on 27 September 2020 and concluded on 8 October 2020. Gazelle won their fourth Chadian title.
The 2022 LINAFOOT, was the 5th edition of the national football league. The tournament was held from July 3 to 17, 2022, and all matches were played in N'Djaména at the Stade de Diguel, Stade de Paris-Congo, and Stade Académie de Farcha. A total of 12 teams participated in the tournament, from seven zones as follows: Espoir FC de Guéra (Zone 1), AS Santé (Abéché) (Zone 2), Olympique de Mao (Mao) (Zone 3), Boule d'Or (Pala) and Expérience FC (Bongor) (Zone 4), Gazelle FC (Sarh) and FC Amboko (Goré) (Zone 5), AS Santé (Amdjarass) (Zone 6), and Foullah Edifice FC (N'Djaména), Tout Puissaint Elect-Sport FC (N'Djaména), AS PSI (N'Djaména), and Renaissance FC (N'Djaména) (Zone 7). The tournament consisted of a group stage and a final. The group stage was divided into two pools, A and B, with six teams each. First team from each pool advanced to the final. The final was held on July 17, 2022, between TP Elect-Sport FC and AS Santé (Abéché). TP Elect-Sport FC won 7-6 by penalties after the match finished 0-0.
Champions were: [13]
| Année | Champion |
|---|---|
| 1961–62 | Renaissance FC (1) |
| 1962–1964 | Unknown |
| 1964–65 | Renaissance FC (2) |
| 1965–66 | Renaissance FC (3) |
| 1966–1971 | Unknown |
| 1971–72 | Yal Club (1) |
| 1972–73 | Yal Club (2) |
| 1973–1978 | Unknow'n' |
| 1978–1986 | Not held |
| 1986–87 | Unknown |
| 1987–88 | Elect-Sport FC (1) |
| 1988–89 | Renaissance FC (4) |
| 1989–90 | Elect-Sport FC (2) |
| 1990–91 | Tourbillon FC (1) |
| 1991–92 | Elect-Sport FC (3) |
| 1992–93 | Postel 2000 FC (1) |
| 1993–94 | Renaissance FC Abeché (1) |
| 1994–95 | Postel 2000 FC (2) |
| 1995–96 | AS CotonTchad (1) |
| 1996–97 | Tourbillon FC (2) |
| 1997–98 | AS CotonTchad (2) |
| 1998–99 | Renaissance FC Abeché (2) |
| 1999–2000 | Tourbillon FC (3) |
| 2000–01 | Tourbillon FC (4) |
| 2001–02 | Unknown |
| 2002–03 | Unknown |
| 2003–04 | Not held |
| 2005 | Renaissance FC (5) |
| 2006 | Renaissance FC (6) |
| 2007 | Renaissance FC (7) |
| 2008 | Elect-Sport FC (4) |
| 2009–10 | Gazelle FC (1) |
| 2010 | Not held |
| 2011 | Not held |
| 2012 | Not held |
| 2013 | Foullah Edifice FC (1) |
| 2014 | Not held |
| 2014–15 | Gazelle FC (2) |
| 2016 | Not finished |
| 2017 | Not finished |
| 2018 | Elect-Sport FC (5) |
| 2019 | Elect-Sport FC (6) |
| 2020 | Gazelle FC (3) |
| 2021 | Not held |
| 2022 | Elect-Sport FC (7) |
| 2023 | AS PSI (1) |
| 2024 | |
| Club | City | Titles | Last title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renaissance FC | N'Djamena | 7 | 2007 |
| Elect-Sport FC | N'Djamena | 7 | 2022 |
| Tourbillon FC | N'Djamena | 5 | 2010 |
| Gazelle FC | N'Djamena | 4 | 2020 |
| Foullah Edifice FC | N'Djamena | 3 | 2014 |
| AS CotonTchad | N'Djamena | 2 | 1998 |
| Postel 2000 FC | N'Djamena | 2 | 1995 |
| Renaissance FC | Abéché | 2 | 1999 |
| AS PSI | N'Djamena | 1 | 2023 |
Since its formation, the league went through many changes in its system and number of participating clubs. The new formula of the national football championship takes place in two phases. The first phase is called a zonal phase, and consists of zones. At the end of the zonal confrontations, clubs start the second phase of the championship. [1] The tournament consists of a group stage and a final. The group stage is divided into two groups, A and B, with six teams each. First team from each group advances to the final. Winner of the final is crowned champion. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss.
The national champion enters the Champions League preliminary round, while cup winner enters Confederation Cup Preliminary round.
CAF Champions League is open to the winners of all CAF-affiliated national leagues. From the 2004 competition the runner-up of the league of the 12 highest-ranked countries also entered the tournament creating a 64-team field. The 12 countries would be ranked on the performance of their clubs in the previous 5 years. As Chad is not among the best 12 countries, it has only one spot in this competition.
From the top twelve placed CAF member associations, the winner of the domestic cup and the third placed club in the domestic league of the considered associations, are eligible to participate in the CAF Confederation Cup, while only domestic cup winners from member associations ranked from 13 till 55 are eligible to participate in the competition. As Chad is not among the 12 best placed countries, it has only one spot in this competition.
Chadian clubs started to participate in African competitions in 1990, with RFC N'Djamena being the first Chadian club to enter the African Cup of Champions Clubs. Chadian clubs have never won either Champions League or Confederations Cup. The best result they have achieved was first round of Champions League (RFC N'Djamena in 1990, Elect-Sport in 1991, POSTEL 2000 in 1996, ASCOT N'Djamena in 1997, Tourbillon in 1992, 1998 and 2002, Gazelle in 2010).
In July 2014 it was announced that mobile operator Airtel signed a deal with FTFA and became its official sponsor. The goal was improving the football in Chad. Airtel has already signed deals with a lot of African football federations. [14]
Le Fonds National de Développement du Sport (FNDS) is the fond for the development of sports in Chad. It finances national football league among the others. For the season 2014, the FNDS marked off 300 million FCFA. [15] Chadian league faced many financial problems during the years. The national league was interrupted a few times because of this. Season 2015 was suspended for financial reasons, [16] [17] but it resumed after 2 and a half months, after some amount of money was paid by Federation. [18]
Five clubs (ASCOT, Elect, Foullah, Gazelle, RFC) play on the same stadium, Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya , also named Stade Nacional, located in N'Djamena. [19] The stadium holds 20,000 [20] people, and has artificial grass. [21] It is also the home ground of the Chad national football team. It is named after former Chadian highjumper Mahamat Idriss (1942—1987). ASCOT Moundou plays its home games on Stade de Moundou . The stadium holds 10,000 people. [20] RFC Abéché plays its home games on Stade de Abéché (capacity 5,000), [20] while Lycod de Doba plays its home games on Stade Omnisports de Doba (capacity 8,000; built in 2008). Mirim Mongo plays on Stade Idriss Miskine . [22] AS Kokaga Sarh plays on Stade Omnisport de Begou .
| Year | Best scorers | Club | Goals |
| 2003 |  Cyprien Nguembaye | Gazelle FC [23] | 12 [24] |
| 2005 | Misdongarde Betolngar [25] | Renaissance FC | 7 [26] |
| 2010 | Mahamat Adda 'Abou Deco' [ citation needed ] | AS CotonTchad | |
| 2012 | Rodrigue Ninga [ citation needed ] | Renaissance FC | 12 |
| 2014 | Hassane Brahim [27] | Elect-Sport FC | 19 |
| 2015 | Beadoum Monde | Gazelle FC | 28 [28] |
| 2018 | Mahamat Adda 'Abou Deco' | AS CotonTchad | 14 [29] |
| 2019 | Hassane Brahim | Elect-Sport FC |
Stade National, also named Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya, is a multi-use stadium in N'Djamena, Chad. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 20,000 people and it has artificial grass. It is currently the home ground of the Chad national football team. It is named after former Chadian highjumper Mahamat Idriss (1942—1987).
The Chad Cup is the top knockout tournament of the Chad football. The winner competes in the CAF Confederation Cup the following season.
Armand Djérabé is a Chadian footballer who plays for CotonTchad.
Renaissance FC or RFC is a Chadian professional football club based in N'Djamena. The club won Chad Premier League 7 times, last time in 2007. Recently, it produced a few Chad national football team players, such as Mondésir Alladjim, Yaya Kerim, Esaie Djikoloum and Hassan Diallo.
Elect-Sport FC is a football (soccer) club from Chad based in N'Djamena. It plays its home matches on Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya in N'Djamena.
Gazelle FC is a football club from Chad based in N'Djamena. The club currently plays in the Chad Premier League, the top flight of Chadian football.
Tourbillon FC is a football (soccer) club from Chad based in N'Djamena. The club has won Chad Premier League title 6 times. The club plays home matches on Stade Omnisports Idriss Mahamat Ouya.
Association Sportive CotonTchad is a football club from Chad based in N'Djamena.
Léger Djimrangar is a Chadian footballer who plays as a midfielder for AS CotonTchad and the Chad national football team.
Foullah Edifice Football Club is a football (soccer) club from Chad based in N'Djamena. They had a few Chadian national team players, like Mbaya Brice, Massama Asselmo, Ferdinand Gassina and Hassan Hissein.
The 2010 Première Division was the 23rd season of the Chad Premier League, the top Chadian league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1988. National championship system was changed for this season, and it was decided that Ligue de N'Djaména will be considered national championship, unlike seasons before, where the championship consisted out of regional champions only. The season began in January 2010, and concluded on 12 October 2010.
The 2011 Première Division was the 24th season of the Chad Premier League, the top Chadian league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1988. The season started on 16 January 2011 and concluded in June 2011.
The 2017 LINAFOOT was supposed to be the 2nd season of the LINAFOOT, the top Chadian league for association football clubs since its establishment in 2015. Gazelle as 2015 season winners, were the defending champions, since 2016 season was interrupted due financial difficulties. The season started on 7 May 2017.
The 2015 LINAFOOT was the inaugural season of the LINAFOOT, the top Chadian league for association football clubs. The season was supposed to run from February to August, with teams playing 22 matches each totalling 132 matches in the season. However, due financial difficulties, championship was interrupted after 15 rounds and later resumed, finishing on 24 December 2015.
The 2016 LINAFOOT was supposed to be the 2nd season of the LINAFOOT, the top Chadian league for association football clubs since its establishment in 2015. Gazelle were the defending champions. The season started on 28 July 2016. However, the championship was interrupted due financial difficulties, at the end of October.
The 2018 LINAFOOT was the 2nd season of the LINAFOOT, the top Chadian league for association football clubs since its establishment in 2015.
The 2019 LINAFOOT was the 3rd season of the LINAFOOT, the top Chadian league for association football clubs since its establishment in 2015.
The 2009 Première Division was the Chad Premier League season, the top Chadian league for association football clubs, for 2008/09. Elect-Sport came into the season as defending champions of the 2008 season. Gazelle won the National Championship title after beating Renaissance (Abéché) 3-1 in the final. AS CotonTchad as the cup winners qualified to Confederation Cup, after beating ASBNF de Koumra 3-0 in the final.
The 2020 LINAFOOT was the 4th season of the LINAFOOT, the top Chadian league for association football clubs since its establishment in 2015.
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