Seychelles national football team

{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox national football team with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 2ndRegional cup apps | 2ndRegional cup best | 2ndRegional cup first | 2ndRegional name | 3rdRegional cup apps | 3rdRegional cup best | 3rdRegional cup first | 3rdRegional name | 4thRegional cup apps | 4thRegional cup best | 4thRegional cup first | 4thRegional name | American | Association | Badge | Badge_size | body1 | body2 | body3 | BSWW Rank | Captain | Coach | Confederation | Confederations cup apps | Confederations cup best | Confederations cup first | Current | date | Elo max | Elo max date | Elo max year | Elo min | Elo min date | Elo min year | Elo Rank | FIFA max | FIFA max date | FIFA max year | FIFA min | FIFA min date | FIFA min year | FIFA Rank | FIFA Trigramme | filetype | filetype1 | filetype2 | filetype3 | First game | Home Stadium | Largest loss | Largest win | Last game | leftarm1 | leftarm2 | leftarm3 | medaltemplates | medaltemplates-expand | Most caps | Name | Nickname | Only game | Other-affiliation | pattern_b1 | pattern_b2 | pattern_b3 | pattern_la1 | pattern_la2 | pattern_la3 | pattern_name1 | pattern_name2 | pattern_name3 | pattern_ra1 | pattern_ra2 | pattern_ra3 | pattern_sh1 | pattern_sh2 | pattern_sh3 | pattern_so1 | pattern_so2 | pattern_so3 | Regional cup apps | Regional cup best | Regional cup first | Regional name | rightarm1 | rightarm2 | rightarm3 | shorts1 | shorts2 | shorts3 | socks1 | socks2 | socks3 | Sub-confederation | Top scorer | Type | type | U17WC apps | U17WC best | U17WC first | U20WC apps | U20WC best | U20WC first | UEFAu21Champ apps | UEFAu21Champ best | UEFAu21Champ first | Upright |website | World cup apps | World cup best | World cup first }}

The Seychelles national football team, nicknamed the Pirates, represents Seychelles in international football and is controlled by the Seychelles Football Federation (SFF). SFF has been a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA since 1986.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The team's home stadium is the 10,000-capacity Stade Linité located in Roche Caiman in the outskirts of Victoria, the capital of Seychelles.<ref name=":0" />

History

Football was introduced to Seychelles in the 1930s. Its first official competition, the Challenge Cup, was organized in 1936. Then in 1941, a championship between five teams was set up with matches of 60 minutes, played barefoot.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1969, the president of the Seychelles Football Federation wanted to set up a national team. Engaged on a voluntary basis, Adrian Fisher arrived on the island in September to reorganize Seychelles football. He equipped all the players with shoes, introduced contemporary training techniques and extended the match time to 90 minutes. The newly-formed national team played their first matches at a friendly tournament in Kenya in April 1970. In Seychelles' first matches played on a real football pitch, they drew 2–2 against Feisal F.C. then lost 1–2 to Mwengi at Mombasa Municipal Stadium. When Fisher left Seychelles in 1973, the team had played six games against four clubs.

Seychelles played their first match against another national team on March 13, 1974, against Réunion. In this friendly match, the Pirates lost 0–2. Two years later, this time as an independent nation, the Seychelles faced Réunion again, losing 1–4. In September 1977, they played their first match against a FIFA-affiliated team, Mauritius, during a tournament played in Réunion, and lost 1–2. The team enjoyed its first victory the following year by beating Réunion 1–0 at home.

Seychelles v Ethiopia at Stade Linité, 5 September 2015

In 1979, Seychelles played their first tournament, the 1979 Indian Ocean Games. They lost their first game 3–0 to Réunion, and beat Maldives 9–0 in their second. In the semi-final, they knocked out Mauritius 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw, but in the final they lost 2–1 to Réunion.

Seychelles were eliminated from the group stage at the 1985 Indian Ocean Games but, on August 31, 1986, they played their first competitive match recognised by FIFA and CAF, following their affiliation with both organisations, a qualification match against Mauritius for the 1987 All-Africa Games, which they lost 1–2. They participated, for the first time, in the 1988 African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Mauritius but lost 1–3 over the two legs.

At the 1990 Indian Ocean Games, the team suffered the heaviest defeat in its history against Madagascar in the semi-final, losing 0–6. In the bronze medal match, they won against Comoros 3–1. Despite hosting the following games, the team failed to repeat this performance, losing all four games and finishing last in the competition.

After the elimination from the preliminary phase of the 1996 African Cup of Nations by Mauritius 2–1 over the two legs, Vojo Gardašević was hired to lead the team. Following that, the Pirates again finished third in the 1998 Indian Ocean Games and, two years later, competed in the World Cup qualifiers for the first time. Playing against Namibia they drew 1–1 in Stade Linité, thanks to a goal by Philip Zialor but lost the second leg 0–3. Seychelles were also eliminated in the preliminary round of the 2000 African Cup of Nations by Zimbabwe 0–6 over the two matches. Seychelles fared better in the qualification for the 2004 African Cup of Nations as the team, led by Dominique Bathenay then Michael Nees, finished third and recorded two prestigious home wins: beating Eritrea 1–0 with a goal by veteran Roddy Victor, and beating a Peter Ndlovu-led Zimbabwe team 2–1 with goals by strikers Alpha Baldé and Philip Zialor. Following that they achieved a bronze medal at the 2003 Indian Ocean Games, then were eliminated in the preliminary round of the 2006 World Cup by Zambia, 1–5 in the two games.

In 2011, Seychelles hosted the 2011 Indian Ocean Island Games and won the tournament for the first time, beating Mauritius in the final on penalties.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

The rest of the 2010s saw little success for The Pirates with the high point achieved during 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification where they managed a 2–0 win over Lesotho and a 1–1 draw with Ethiopia to finish third in their four-team group.Template:Citation needed

FIFA Goal programme

In 2006, a new technical centre in Mahé was opened, with help from the FIFA Goal programme.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The project had a total cost of approximately 750,000 USD. James Michel, president of the Seychelles, was present at the inauguration. The technical centre houses the SFF headquarters, an auditorium, 20 bedrooms, two massage rooms, changing rooms and a restaurant. The centre is located next to the turf pitches that were also installed by the Goal programme in 2003.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Results and fixtures

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Head Coach	Template:Flagicon Ralph Jean-Louis (caretaker)
Assistant Coaches	Template:Flagicon Ernest Vivien Template:Flagicon Lesley Guichard
Goalkeeping Coach	Template:Flagicon Frantz Boulle
Fitness Coach	Template:Flagicon James Fontaine
Match Analyst	Template:Flagicon Alexis Lafleur
Doctors	Template:Flagicon Dr. Daniel François Template:Flagicon Dr. Justine Valmont
Physiotherapists	Template:Flagicon Michael Payet Template:Flagicon Jules Hervé Template:Flagicon Richard Lemoine Template:Flagicon Thomas Hoareau
Team Coordinator	Template:Flagicon Gavin Jeanne
Technical Director	Template:Flagicon Vivian Bothe

Coaching history

Caretaker managers are listed in italics.

• Template:Flagicon Adrian Fisher (1969–1973)
• Template:Flagicon Ulrich Mathiot (1991)
• Template:Flagicon Helmut Kosmehl (1992–1993)
• Template:Flagicon Vojo Gardašević (1997–2001)
• Template:Flagicon Dominique Bathenay (2002)
• Template:Flagicon Michael Nees (2002–2004)
• Template:Flagicon Raoul Shungu (2006–2008)
• Template:Flagicon Jan Mak (2008)
• Template:Flagicon Ulrich Mathiot (2008)
• Template:Flagicon Richard Holmlund (2009)
• Template:Flagicon Jan Mak (2010)
• Template:Flagicon Michael Nees (2010)
• Template:Flagicon Andrew Amers-Morrison (2010)
• Template:Flagicon Ralph Jean-Louis (2010–2011)
• Template:Flagicon Gavin Jeanne (2012)
• Template:Flagicon Jan Mak (2013–2014)
• Template:Flagicon Ulrich Mathiot (2014–2015)
• Template:Flagicon Bruno Saindini (2015)
• Template:Flagicon Ralph Jean-Louis (2015–2016)
• Template:Flagicon Joel de Commarmond (2017)
• Template:Flagicon Rodney Choisy (2017)
• Template:Flagicon Gavin Jeanne (2018–2019)
• Template:Flagicon Jan Mak (2019)
• Template:Flagicon Ralph Jean-Louis (2020–2021)
• Template:Flagicon Osama Haroun (2021)
• Template:Flagicon Vivian Bothe (2021–2023)
• Template:Flagicon Ralph Jean-Louis (2023–)

Players

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group F matches against Gabon and Kenya on 3 and 9 September 2025.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Caps and goals correct as of 25 March 2025, after the match against Burundi.

Player records

Template:Updated<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Players in bold are still active with Seychelles.

Most appearances

Rank	Name	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Benoit Marie	64	0	2013–present
2	Gervais Waye-Hive	51	6	2012–present
3	Colin Esther	45	2	2008–2022
4	Eric Nelson Sopha	44	0	1996–2012
5	Jones Joubert	43	0	2006–2019
	Warren Mellie	43	3	2017–present
7	Achille Henriette	39	6	2006–2016
8	Brandon Labrosse	35	4	2017–present
9	Template:Interlanguage link	33	1	2002–2014
	Philip Zialor	33	14	1998–2009

Top goalscorers

Rank	Name	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Philip Zialor	14	33	{{#expr:14/33 round 2}}	1998–2009
2	Template:Interlanguage link	6	20	{{#expr:6/20 round 2}}	1996–2011
	Achille Henriette	6	39	{{#expr:6/39 round 2}}	2006–2016
	Gervais Waye-Hive	6	51	{{#expr:6/51 round 2}}	2012–present
5	Perry Monnaie	4	17	{{#expr:4/17 round 2}}	2018–2020
	Template:Interlanguage link	4	27	{{#expr:4/27 round 2}}	2000–2011
	Brandon Labrosse	4	35	{{#expr:4/35 round 2}}	2019–present
8	Ralph Jean-Louis	3	10	{{#expr:3/10 round 2}}	1993–2000
	Lorenzo Hoareau	3	12	{{#expr:3/12 round 2}}	2021–present
	Template:Interlanguage link	3	12	{{#expr:3/12 round 2}}	2002–2011
	Template:Interlanguage link	3	17	{{#expr:3/17 round 2}}	2016–2022
	Yelvanny Rose	3	18	{{#expr:3/18 round 2}}	2002–2007
	Nelson Laurence	3	25	{{#expr:3/25 round 2}}	2008–2018
	Godfrey Denis Armel	3	29	{{#expr:3/29 round 2}}	1998–2008
	Warren Mellie	3	43	{{#expr:3/43 round 2}}	2017–present

Competition records

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup										Qualification
Year	Round	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip		Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
1930 to 1974	Part of Template:Flag									Part of Template:Flag
1978 to 1986	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1990 to 1998	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2002	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	1	4
Template:Flagicon 2006										2	0	1	1	1	5
Template:Flagicon 2010										6	0	0	6	4	17
Template:Flagicon 2014										2	0	0	2	0	7
Template:Flagicon 2018										2	0	0	2	0	3
Template:Flagicon 2022										2	0	0	2	0	10
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2026										10	0	0	10	2	53
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2030	To be determined									To be determined
Template:Flagicon 2034
Total	–	Template:Tooltip	–	–	–	–	–	–		26	0	2	24	8	99

Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record										Africa Cup of Nations Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip*	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip		Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
Template:Flagicon 1957 to Template:Flagicon 1976	Part of Template:Flag									Part of Template:Flag
Template:Flagicon 1978 to Template:Flagicon 1986	Not affiliated to CAF									Not affiliated to CAF
Template:Flagicon 1988	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1990	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	1	3
Template:Flagicon 1992	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 1994	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1996	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 1998	Did not qualify									2	0	1	1	1	2
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2000	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 2002
Template:Flagicon 2004	Did not qualify									6	2	0	4	4	10
Template:Flagicon 2006										2	0	1	1	1	5
Template:Flagicon 2008										6	1	1	4	3	14
Template:Flagicon 2010										6	0	0	6	4	17
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2012	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 2013	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	0	7
Template:Flagicon 2015	Withdrew									Withdrew
Template:Flagicon 2017	Did not qualify									6	1	1	4	5	11
Template:Flagicon 2019										6	0	1	5	3	25
Template:Flagicon 2021										2	0	0	2	1	3
Template:Flagicon 2023										2	0	1	1	1	3
Template:Flagicon 2025	Excluded									Excluded
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon 2027	To be determined									To be determined
Template:Flagicon 2029
Total	–	0/35	–	–	–	–	–	–		42	5	6	31	24	100

Indian Ocean Island Games

Indian Ocean Island Games record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr*	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr
Template:Flagicon 1979	Runners-up	2nd	4	1	1	2	11	6
Template:Flagicon 1985	Group stage	6th	2	0	0	2	1	4
Template:Flagicon 1990	Third place	3rd	3	1	0	2	3	9
Template:Flagicon 1993	Fourth place	4th	4	0	0	4	3	12
Template:Flagicon 1998	Third place	3rd	4	2	0	2	9	10
Template:Flagicon 2003	Third place	3rd	4	1	2	1	3	6
Template:Flagicon 2007	Group stage	5th	2	1	0	1	2	4
Template:Flagicon 2011	Champions	1st	5	3	2	0	10	4
Template:Flagicon 2015	Group stage	5th	3	1	0	2	4	3
Template:Flagicon 2019	Fourth place	4th	4	0	2	2	2	8
Template:Flagicon 2023	Group Stage	6th	2	0	0	2	0	2
Total	1 Title	11/11	36	10	7	20	48	68

CECAFA Cup

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

COSAFA Cup

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Year	COSAFA Cup
	Round	Result	M	W	D	L	GF	GA
2000	Excluded
2001
2002	Did not enter
2003
2004
2005	Round 1	11th	1	0	0	1	0	3
2006	Round 1	7th	2	0	1	1	1	3
2007	Round 1	13th	2	0	0	2	0	7
Template:Flagicon 2008	Group stage	11th	3	1	1	1	8	2
Template:Flagicon 2009	Group stage	13th	3	0	0	3	2	6
Template:Flagicon 2013	Group stage	13th	2	0	0	2	2	8
Template:Flagicon 2015	Group stage	13th	3	0	1	2	0	2
Template:Flagicon 2016	Group stage	14th	3	0	0	3	0	10
Template:Flagicon 2017	Group stage	14th	3	0	0	3	1	10
Template:Flagicon 2018	Group stage	12th	3	0	2	1	2	3
Template:Flagicon 2019	Group stage	13th	3	0	1	2	0	6
Template:Flagicon 2021	Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 2022	Group Stage	13th	3	0	0	3	1	6
Template:Flagicon 2023	Group Stage	12th	3	0	0	3	2	9
Total	Group stage	11/19	34	1	6	27	19	75

Head-to-head record

Template:Updated<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

FIFA members

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	6	–6
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	2	6	–4
Template:Fb	3	1	1	1	2	2	0
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	3	–3
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	3	7	–4
Template:Fb	7	0	0	7	3	22	–19
Template:Fb	9	3	2	4	12	16	–4
Template:Fb	1	0	1	0	1	1	0
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	7	–7
Template:Fb	3	1	0	2	1	2	–1
Template:Fb	4	0	1	3	1	7	–6
Template:Fb	2	0	1	1	2	3	–1
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	7	–7
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	1	12	–11
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	16	–16
Template:Fb	7	0	1	6	2	26	–24
Template:Fb	5	1	2	2	5	6	–1
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	2	13	–11
Template:Fb	13	0	4	9	6	28	–22
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	5	–5
Template:Fb	8	4	1	3	21	10	+11
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	5	–5
Template:Fb	31	6	8	17	32	51	–19
Template:Fb	4	0	1	3	2	6	–4
Template:Fb	7	0	3	4	5	15	–10
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	1	6	–5
Template:Fb	1	0	0	1	0	1	–1
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	10	–10
Template:Fb	1	0	1	0	0	0	0
Template:Fb	1	0	0	1	0	2	–2
Template:Fb	3	0	1	2	0	9	–9
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	1	3	–2
Template:Fb	4	2	1	1	8	5	+3
Template:Fb	2	0	0	2	0	5	–5
Template:Fb	2	1	1	0	3	2	+1
Template:Fb	4	0	0	4	0	14	–14
Template:Fb	3	0	0	3	2	8	–6
Template:Fb	4	0	1	3	3	11	–8
Template:Fb	7	1	0	6	3	22	–19
Total	165	20	31	113	124	380	–256

Non FIFA members

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
Template:Fb	3	1	0	2	3	5	–2
Template:Fb	16	2	1	13	9	33	–24
Total	19	3	1	15	12	38	–26

Honours

Regional

• Indian Ocean Island Games
  • Template:Gold1 Gold medal (1): 2011
  • Template:Silver2 Silver medal (1): 1979
  • Template:Bronze3 Bronze medal (3): 1990, 1998, 2003

Friendly

• Four Nations Football Tournament (1): 2021

External links

• Seychelles at FIFA
• Seychelles at CAF

Template:Seychelles national football team managers Template:Football in Seychelles Template:COSAFA Football {{#invoke:navbox|navbox | name = CAF teams | title = National football teams of Africa (CAF) |listclass = hlist |group1 = North Africa (UNAF) |list1 =

• Algeria
• Egypt
• Libya
• Morocco
• Tunisia

|group2 = West Africa (WAFU) |list2 =

• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Cape Verde
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Ivory Coast
• Liberia
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Togo

|group3 = East Africa (CECAFA) |list3 =

• Burundi
• Djibouti
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Kenya
• Rwanda
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Sudan
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Zanzibar¹

|group4 = Central Africa (UNIFFAC) |list4 =

• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Congo
• DR Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Gabon
• São Tomé and Príncipe

|group5 = Southern Africa (COSAFA) |list5 =

• Angola
• Botswana
• Comoros
• Eswatini
• Lesotho
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Seychelles
• South Africa
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

|group6 = Non-regional Members |list6 =

• Réunion¹

|below= ¹ Regional team, an associate member of CAF but not a member of FIFA

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{{#invoke:portal-inline|main|size=tiny|Football in Africa}} }} Template:National sports teams of Seychelles