After retiring from the CFL about six months ago, Marc-Antoine Dequoy is now back in the game, competing for a football championship with the Canadian men’s team in Duesseldorf, Germany, at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) world flag football championship. Dequoy, a 31-year-old safety who spent five seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, decided to retire due to physical limitations that would prevent him from fulfilling the demands of a full CFL season. However, his love for competition led him to reconsider his retirement and join the flag football team.
Despite initial hesitation, Dequoy was persuaded by Canadian head coach Paul LaPolice to give flag football a try. After taking time off to co-host a television show in March through May, Dequoy realized that he missed the competitive aspect of the sport and reached out to LaPolice to express his interest in returning to the field. Having previously achieved success in the CFL, including winning a Grey Cup in 2023, Dequoy faced a new challenge in flag football, which has different rules and gameplay dynamics.
Transitioning to flag football presented its own set of challenges for Dequoy, as he had to break old habits of physical play and adapt to the non-contact nature of the game. He mentioned that grabbing an opponent’s flag was particularly difficult for him, but he was dedicated to improving his skills and understanding the nuances of the game.
In Germany, Canada’s flag football team had a schedule change after Nigeria withdrew from the competition due to visa issues. This resulted in Canada playing two preliminary-round games instead of three. The top-two finishers in the tournament will secure Olympic berths, with the possibility of a third team qualifying if the United States reaches the gold-medal game.
Dequoy expressed his excitement and determination to compete for a spot in the Olympics, highlighting the significance of the opportunity to represent Canada at the highest level of the sport. He acknowledged the importance of the world championship as a stepping stone towards achieving his dream of Olympic participation, emphasizing the competitive drive among all athletes aiming for a chance to qualify for the prestigious event.