MIAMI, Florida – French Guiana have qualified for the Concacaf Gold Cup just once in their history, in 2017, but it would be foolish to bet against Les Yana Dokos from emerging from the 2021 Gold Cup Prelims with one of the three coveted spots for the Group Stage.
Many of the players who qualified for French Guiana’s first Gold Cup in 2017 will be back in the fold on July 3 when they face Cuba in the first round of the Prelims, and a good chunk of them have ample experience playing in Europe.
That includes FW Sloan Privat, the 31-year-old who scored one of his country’s two goals in the 2017 tournament. The former Sochaux, Caen and Valenciennes man brings a lot of experience to the table and will keep the Cuban defense on their toes.
There is European experience on the back line as well in the form of DF Kevin Rimane. A player who won three league titles as a member of Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, Rimane will be counted on to keep French Guiana’s defensive shape intact.
Rimane will also get some help from Stade Brestois 29 DF Ludovic Baal and Boulogne GK Simon Lugier, who made seven saves in French Guiana’s second-place finish in their group in League B of the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League.
French Guiana can also take solace in the fact that in their last previous meeting with the Cubans, they earned a 3-0 triumph in March 2016 during qualifying for the 2017 Caribbean Cup.
All the factors of a strong defense, an attack with an ability to score and good recent history versus their opponent should give French Guiana Head Coach Thierry De Neef the comfort that his team has the make-up to advance.
