After six months of retirement, Marc-Antoine Dequoy has returned to competitive football, this time in the Canadian men’s team participating in the IFAF world flag football championship in Duesseldorf, Germany. Dequoy, a 31-year-old safety who retired from the CFL in February after five seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, cited physical readiness as the reason for stepping back from professional football.
Dequoy, a native of lle-Bizard, Que., initially hesitated to join flag football when Canadian head coach Paul LaPolice approached him right after his retirement. However, after conducting research and trying out a few games, Dequoy found himself enjoying the new challenge and competitive environment.
Despite his successful CFL career, which included being twice named a CFL all-star and winning a Grey Cup in 2023, Dequoy admitted that adjusting to flag football posed unique challenges. The game is played on a smaller field with different rules, requiring a shift in playing style and mindset for Dequoy.
Canada’s participation in the world championship faced a hurdle when Nigeria withdrew its men’s and women’s teams due to travel visa issues. As a result, Canada’s preliminary-round games were reduced to two, with wins awarded to the remaining teams in the group. The top-two finishers in the championship will secure Olympic berths, with the possibility of a third team advancing if the United States reaches the gold-medal game.
Dequoy expressed his determination to compete for a spot in the Olympics through the flag football championship, highlighting the significance of the event as a pathway to achieving a long-held dream of Olympic participation in a football-related sport. The stakes are high for the teams aiming to secure a place in the Olympics, emphasizing the competitive nature of the tournament and its connection to the pinnacle of athletic achievement.
