The Golden Jaguars arrived in Antigua and Barbuda yesterday ahead of the commencement of their group B campaign tomorrow in the CONCACAF Men’s U20 Qualifiers.
According to a source close to the Guyana Football Federation, the team travelled in fragments to the twin island nation and held their first training session yesterday afternoon.
The 21-member squad, which is under the supervision of recently appointed head coach Kayode McKinnon, comprises goalkeepers Duqain Samuels, Julian Casimir, and Emmanuel Lewis; defenders Tyler Lyle, Tyrel Stephen, Jayden Culley, Gerry Burnett, Tyrese Lyle, Kymani Sealey, and Jaden Thom; midfielders Rodensio Tudor, Shamiah Samuels, Ezekiel Rowland, Solomon Austin, Kvist Paul, Brandon Khedoo, and Nathaniel Pydana; and forwards Kyle Reid, Bryan Wharton, Matrim Martin, and Perry Gaul.
The Golden Jaguars have been drawn in group B of the qualifiers, which will occur across five venues in the Caribbean and Central America during the period of February 23rd-March 2nd. The teams were seeded in their respective pots based on their current rankings.
The Guyanese, who were seeded in pool 4 of the five-pot selection process, have been paired with El Salvador, Antigua and Barbuda, Suriname, and Turks and Caicos. The matches will be staged in Antigua and Barbuda at the island’s technical centre.
Guyana, which is ranked 27th, will open its campaign against the hosts. They will then oppose El Salvador two days later, before battling Suriname on the 27th. Guyana’s final match will occur on February 29th against the Turks and Caicos. On the respective group winners will advance to the championship segment.
In the 2022 edition, the Golden Jaguars ended with a record of one win, a loss, and a draw. Guyana played a scoreless affair with the Cayman Islands before crushing the US Virgin Islands 5-1 in their second outing. In their final match, Guyana lost 0-5 to Nicaragua in a must-win encounter.
