The Central African Republic took part in the first edition of the FIFA Series in Sri Lanka, one of six tournaments organized by the body in five countries. Raoul Savoy, the Swiss coach of the Fauves du Bas-Oubangui, reflects on what he sees as a positive experience.
How would you sum up the Central African Republic's participation in the Sri Lankan edition of the FIFA Series with the local team, Bhutan and Papua New Guinea?
A positive assessment. First of all, in terms of organization, it was a very tight affair. FIFA took care of transport, accommodation in Colombo - the four teams stayed in the same hotel, a very fine establishment by the way - and organization on site, notably the training slots. Everything went smoothly. For our part, we had to deal with administrative formalities, such as visas. We spent a week in Sri Lanka, and I'm really satisfied with our stay. Admittedly, it was hot and humid, but the results were really positive. It was an interesting experience, to be repeated.
Particularly in sporting terms, with wins over Bhutan (6-0) and Papua New Guinea (4-0)...
Yes, it was important to win these two matches in the FIFA Series. They were official matches, which will earn us points in the FIFA rankings. It's also good for our confidence ahead of our 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Ghana in June. We've taken these matches seriously, against opponents who are new to us, because when the Central African Republic play friendlies, they almost always come up against African teams.
What did you learn from these two matches?
The victories and the scores show that the players took things seriously. Even if some of them, and they'll admit it, didn't necessarily have the attitude I was expecting. We came up against some unusual opponents, with very different styles. It was interesting to observe everyone's attitudes and their ability to adapt to very different teams.I also took the opportunity to rotate the squad a little, particularly in the attacking sector. And what was also very important, in addition to these two matches, was to be able to work on tactics in particular.
How were you received in Sri Lanka?
Very good. Sri Lankans are very hospitable. I also liked the atmosphere in the old-style stadium in Colombo, which was quite relaxed. On Saturday afternoon, we were able to take a tour of the capital. It was very interesting.
Do you have any information about the next edition of the FIFA Series?
From what I understand, it will take place in March 2026. There could also be more teams involved. I also have the impression that there could be a rebalancing of the groups.In any case, I enjoyed my participation in the tournament in Sri Lanka, as did my staff and players.
