Ahmed Salem
Members of the Haitian national football team arrived in their country's capital amid tight security measures to celebrate their performance in the World Cup, following the team's historic debut in the tournament.
Despite losing all their group stage matches at the World Cup, Haiti scored two goals against Morocco in their final game, and the celebrations continue, giving them a morale boost in their struggles against poverty and rising gang violence in Haiti.
Dawkins Nazon, accompanied by his teammates Martin Experience and Josue Dovilger, arrived in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday and were taken to various locations in a black, tinted-window car, amidst fans' eagerness to see them and take pictures with them. The players met behind closed doors with government officials, including the ministers of tourism and culture.
Warm welcome for the Haiti national team
Dozens of fans gathered outside, eagerly looking to see the players and hoping to get a photo with them.
Among the locations was the National Pantheon Museum of Haiti, situated in an area that until recently was controlled by gangs, with armed men still holding sway over an estimated 70 percent of Port-au-Prince.
The area was surrounded by tight security measures, which angered fans who wanted to greet the players.
Samuel Jean, who was among the group of fans outside the museum, said, “The players wanted to come and talk to us, but they wouldn't let us see them.”.
The security measures have angered fans who were expecting a city tour, but it was canceled at the last minute without any explanation.
