After a brief six-month retirement, Marc-Antoine Dequoy, a 31-year-old safety, is back in action aiming for a football championship with the Canadian men’s team at the IFAF world flag football championship in Duesseldorf, Germany. Dequoy had retired from the CFL in February after playing for the Montreal Alouettes for five seasons.
Dequoy explained that his decision to retire from the CFL was due to physical limitations that prevented him from committing to a full season of 18 games. However, feeling the urge for competition again, he joined the flag football team after initially hesitating when Coach LaPolice approached him.
Despite being a CFL all-star and having won a Grey Cup in 2023, Dequoy faced new challenges in flag football, including adjusting to the smaller field dimensions and the no-contact rules for defensive players. He admitted that breaking old habits was tough, especially in tackling and grabbing opponents’ flags.
Canada’s flag football team had to adjust their schedule after Nigeria withdrew from the tournament due to visa issues. The remaining teams, including Canada, were awarded wins, and Canada will now face Austria and Japan in the preliminary rounds. The top-two finishers in the tournament will secure Olympic berths, with the possibility of a third spot if the United States reaches the gold-medal game.
Dequoy expressed his excitement for the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics through flag football, a sport he believes brings a new level of competitiveness and a chance to reach the pinnacle of athletic achievement. The tournament in Germany serves as a crucial step in the Olympic qualification process, with the ultimate goal of securing a spot in the upcoming games.