MIAMI. League B of the 2022-23 Concacaf Nations League returns, with pivotal matches for Cuba and Guadeloupe in Group A, plus French Guiana in Group D.
Barbados vs. Cuba
Barbados and Cuba meet on the Wildey Turf in Barbados on Thursday as Concacaf Nations League’s League B Group A comes to a dramatic finale this month.
Cuba will look to keep its perfect record against the Bajan Tridents intact, having won four and drawn four of their eight previous encounters dating back to the 1974 Central American and Caribbean Games.
Their last meeting came in June when Cuba secured a 3-0 win at the Estadio Antonio Maceo in CNL play.
Cuba FW Onel Hernandez started that match but will not be available for this month’s CNL contests because of an injury. Yet, Cuba will still feel good about its firepower, with MF Arichell Hernandez set for his first match since scoring a hat trick against Antigua and Barbuda. Saprissa FW Luis Paradela and Finland-based forward Willian Pozo also give options to manager Pablo Elier Sanchez.
While Barbados can no longer qualify for the Gold Cup, new manager Orlando da Costa will be eager to build toward the next edition of the competition in the fall. A trio of friendly draws against Grenada give the team plenty to build on, with FW Tajio James in the team for the March matches after scoring three goals in those contests. DF Zachary Ellis-Hayden seeks his international debut after injury denied him a chance to suit up in CNL matches last season.
After this match, Cuba faces Guadeloupe while Barbados travels to meet Antigua and Barbuda.
French Guiana vs. Dominican Republic
Both French Guiana and the Dominican Republic are jockeying for a spot in the Concacaf Gold Cup and promotion to Concacaf Nations League A, as the two teams meet on Thursday at the State Municipal Dr. Edmard Lama in Cayenne.
French Guiana is undefeated in Group D and sits in first on 10 points, setting up for a direct place in the Gold Cup. The DR is in third in the group with four points but still is looking to make the Gold Cup Prelims.
Jean-Claude Darcheville’s squad is backstopped by Auxerre GK Donovan Leon and has seen FW Joel Sarrucco score in all four matches that Les Yana Doko has played thus far.
Guadeloupe vs. Antigua and Barbuda
Guadeloupe and Antigua and Barbuda both continue their push toward the Concacaf Gold Cup when they meet Thursday at the Stade Rene-Serge Nabajoth in Les Abymes for a League B Group A matchup.
Les Gwada Boys will be looking for revenge on Antigua and Barbuda, the only team able to beat them in this CNL thus far. That came back on June 5 when Antigua and Barbuda FW Myles Weston scored in the 55th minute and GK Nick Townsend denied Guadeloupe’s attackers the chance to celebrate a goal.
Few have been able to do so in the CNL. Guadeloupe FW Thierry Ambrose has scored in the island’s three other CNL matches this campaign and once again is in manager Jocelyn Angloma’s squad. There are some new additions as well, including Union Berlin DF Jerome Roussillon and Grenoble FW Jordan Tell, each of whom will vie for their Guadeloupe debuts after representing France at the youth ranks.
But Antigua and Barbuda have had Guadeloupe’s number, winning four of six all-time meetings including the June game in Basseterre. Townsend traveled from Newport County to once again backstop the Benna Boys, while FW Quinton Griffith once again captains the squad.
Already Group A has been full of twists and turns, with Antigua’s previous win over Guadeloupe throwing a wrench in Angloma’s plans to earn a decisive promotion. With each team still in the hunt for the continental championship, this will be a key match for both.
