Golden Jaguars games finalised for CONCACAF Nations League qualifier

Guyana’s senior national Men’s football team, the Golden Jaguars, will hit the field in September when they play host to Barbados in their opening qualifier game of the newly-established CONCACAF Nation’s League.

Details of the tournament were announced on Wednesday, with CONCACAF ushering in a new centralised Men’s national team competition representing a new era of national team football for CONCACAF Member Associations. 

A one-off qualifying phase will be held in September, while the group phase, consisting of three-tiered leagues, will kick off in 2019. 

The top league will end with a Final to crown the Nations League champion, and the competition will also serve to unify the qualifying path for the region’s national teams to the newly expanded Gold Cup.

With matches being played on the FIFA dates between September 2018 and March 2019, Guyana, after their clash with Barbados, will then travel to Turks and Caicos for a meeting between the two countries in October, followed by a clash against French Guiana in November before hosting Belize in March, 2019.   

Ian Greenwood, Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), described the draw as a positive and competitive one for the Golden Jaguars, stating that “we (GFF) feel we have the ability to perform against each opposition.” 

 “We’re excited for our tough visit to French Guiana but feel we have the players to rise to this occasion and come out on top.  Belize should be an interesting game but with home advantage and the support of a packed Stadium that will help us over the line,” Greenwood said. 

Greenwood also pointed out that the launch of the CONCACAF Nations League opens a consistent level of competition to further develop the standard of international football in the region.