With only a point required in their final two matches to seal a place in League A of the CONCACAF Nations League, the Golden Jaguars will face off with The Bahamas today at 18:00hrs in their penultimate League B encounter at the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
According to a release from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), head coach Jamaal Shabazz is confident of a positive result against the Bahamians, noting, “The players are well aware that this is a big moment for Guyana and what a win can do for our lives and our country. So our attitude is to give total effort.”
He added, “We go into the game with the greatest respect for our opponent but with a deep desire to get a positive result. Injury to Reiss Greenidge, Jeremy Garrett, and Elliot Bonds means that we have had to find replacements not just in the squad but in the starting team since they are usually the first eleven players. So these two matches will test the depth of the squad, and we are happy to have a newcomer in Canadian-based Osaze DeRosario.”
Guyana has a perfect 4-0 record to sit atop the standings in Group D. The Guyanese, who defeated Antigua and Barbuda [5-1], The Bahamas [3-2], and Puerto Rico [3-1], will simply need a draw in either of their final two fixtures against The Bahamas or Antigua and Barbuda, respectively, to seal their place in League A.
Guyana will end their campaign against Antigua and Barbuda on Tuesday at the same venue. The 22-member squad reads: Goalkeepers: Quillan Roberts and Akel Clarke; Defenders: Curtez Kellman, Jalen Jones, Marcus Wilson, Colin Nelson, Leo Lovell, Raushan Ritch, Liam Gordon, Jonathan Grant, Amos Ramsay, and Marcus Simmons; Midfielders: Daniel Wilson, Stephen Duke-McKenna, Nathan Moriah-Welch, Darron Niles, and Ryan Hackett; and Forwards: Omari Glasgow, Kadel Daniels, Osaze DeRosario, Deon Moore, and Kelsey Benjamin.
Meanwhile, GFF President Wayne Forde said, “The Golden Jaguars, holding a substantial lead in the standings, are steadfast in their quest for victory to advance to League A. Their commitment is evident in their dedication to training. GFF and the entire football fraternity stand fully behind the Golden Jaguars on this historical journey.”
