History will be against the Golden Jaguars today when they face off with group leader Puerto Rico from 15:00hrs in a top-of-the-table clash in League B of the 2023/2024 CONCACAF Nations League in St. Kitts and Nevis.
It will be the fourth meeting of the nations, with the Puerto Ricans boasting a record of two wins and a loss. Guyana suffered defeat in the most recent meeting on June 20, 2021, via a 2-0 score in their 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier, with their second defeat occurring in March 1993 via the identical result in the Caribbean Cup. Guyana’s only win in their series transpired in March 2016 in the Caribbean Cup via a 1-0 scoreline. Delving deeper into the numbers, Puerto Rico boasts a record of four wins, two draws, and a defeat in 2023.
Puerto Rico defeated the British Virgin Islands [3-1], the Cayman Islands [5-1], the Bahamas [6-1], and Antigua and Barbuda [5-0], while recording scoreless draws against Curacao and Suriname. Their lone loss occurred against Martinique [0-2].
On the other hand, Guyana has a record of three wins, two losses, and as many draws. Guyana defeated Bermuda [2-0], Antigua and Barbuda [5-1], and the Bahamas [3-2], with draws occurring against Montserrat [0-0] and Grenada [1-1, 5-3 penalty kicks].
The Golden Jaguars’ two defeats occurred against Ethiopia [0-2] and Guadeloupe [0-2].
The Golden Jaguars team comprises goalkeepers Quillan Roberts (overseas), Kai McKenzie-Lyle (overseas), and Akel Clarke; defenders Jeremy Garrett, Jonathan Grant (overseas), Colin Nelson, Reiss Greenidge (overseas), Liam Gordon (overseas), Raushan Ritch, Amos Ramsay, Curtez Kellman, and Jalen Jones (overseas); midfielders Daniel Wilson, Leo Lovell, Nathan Moriah Welsh (overseas), Stephen Duke-McKenna (overseas), Darron Niles, Ryan Hackett, and Elliot Bonds (overseas); and forwards Omari Glasgow (overseas), Kadel Daniels (overseas), Deon Moore (overseas), and Kelsey Benjamin.
The Guyanese will also face off against Puerto Rico in the reverse fixture at the same venue on the 17th. The Golden Jaguars final two matches will occur on November 18th and November 21st, respectively, against the Bahamas, Antigua, and Barbuda.
According to CONCACAF, a format change was implemented for the 2023–2024 edition, which resulted in no relegation of teams following the end of the 2022–2023 season.
League A has been increased from 12 to 16 teams and will feature a quarterfinal section. The 12 lowest-ranked teams in League A will feature in a group stage comprising two pools of six, with the resulting group winner and runner-up advancing to the elimination section alongside the USA, Mexico, Canada, and Costa Rica. The quarterfinal fixtures will utilize a home-and-away format.
The fifth and sixth-placed teams at the end of the group stage in League A will be relegated. Meanwhile, League C has been reduced from 12 to nine teams. The competing nations will be divided into three groups of three, with the resulting group winners and the best second-placed team in the division advancing to League B.
