The Guyana Women’s U-20 National Team will take on Honduras in its first game of the 2022 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship on Saturday, with Head Coach Paul DeAbreu reporting that the squad was “working hard” in the Dominican Republic.
The U-20 Lady Jags squad, featuring 15 Canada-based and three Guyana-based players, has been drawn in a group with 2018 champions Mexico, 2012 semi-finalists Panama, and 2015 fourth-placed finishers Honduras.
Guyana is making its second consecutive appearance at the regional championship, having reached the quarter-finals in its first outing at this level in 2020 – just two games shy of qualifying for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Alongside the top 16 ranked sides in the region, Guyana qualified automatically for this year’s tournament as it is regarded by Concacaf as the 10th strongest nation in this age and gender group in the Caribbean, and Central and North America.
Saturday’s match against Honduras kicks off at 16:00h Guyana time and will be streamed live on Concacaf’s Facebook and YouTube platforms.
“The U-20 Lady Jags made history in 2020, reaching the quarter-finals in their first appearance at this level,” said Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde.
“We know the whole nation and diaspora will want to tune in and roar for the team on Saturday as they seek to emulate and improve on that memorable run.”
“On behalf of the GFF and the football community in Guyana, we wish the squad and staff all the best for this important competition,” he continued.
“Despite all the challenges that the pandemic has posed in the run-up to this tournament, we know the girls will give it everything they have got, make us all proud and set a shining example for other young women to get involved in football, especially as we prepare to launch the GFF-Blue Water U-15 Girls’ Development League.”
Guyana will take on Mexico on Monday (February 28) from 19:00h. and Panama on Wednesday (March 2) from 16:00h in its remaining group matches, which will also be live-streamed.
The top three teams from each of the four groups will progress to Round of 16, alongside four additional qualifiers.
