MIAMI, Florida – The second edition of the Concacaf Nations League begins this week with all 41 Concacaf Member Associations returning to the field of play in the 2022-23 CNL.
Sixteen countries will compete in League B and aspire to win their group to secure promotion to League A for the next edition of the tournament. Group winners will also book a spot in the 2023 Gold Cup, while second place finishers will secure a place in the qualification tournament. Teams that finish last will be relegated to Group C.
French Guiana vs Guatemala
Group D kicks things off in League B when French Guiana hosts Guatemala at the Stade Municipal Dr. Edmard Lama in Remire-Montjoly on Thursday.
The encounter marks the first ever meeting between the two nations. Olympic gold medal winning manager Luis Fernando Tena will be at the helm for his first official match as coach of Guatemala.
Danilo Guerra tallied six goals for Guatemala in the previous CNL, while Jessy Marigard led the way for French Guiana with two goals.
Belize vs Dominican Republic
Belize will then host the Dominican Republic just an hour later. It will be the third meeting overall and second at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan. Belize has won both previous encounters in the second round of qualifying in Concacaf for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Belize took a 2-1 win in Santo Domingo followed by a 3-0 victory at home.
Like always, Belize FW Deon McCaulay will be one to watch (2 CNL goals), while Dominican Republic will counter with the likes of Dorny Romero, who scored a goal and had an assist in the previous CNL.
Barbados vs. Antigua and Barbuda
The attention will then shift to Group A as Barbados host Antigua and Barbuda at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia. The two have previously faced off in the Caribbean Cup, Gold Cup qualification and international friendlies. Barbados are undefeated with five victories and one draw across six encounters.
Barbados are boosted by Nicholas Blackman (3 goals, 2 assists in 2019-20 CNL), while veteran MF Quinton Griffith will be counted on to provide attacking punch for the Benna Boys.
Guadeloupe vs. Cuba
Guadeloupe and Cuba will cap off the action on Thursday with a match under the lights of the Stade Rene Serge Nabajoth in Les Abymes. It will be the eighth official encounter between the two, who have also clashed in the Caribbean Cup and Gold Cup qualifying. Guadeloupe has won two encounters; Cuba has won four times and the teams have drawn once.
Raphael Mirval of Guadeloupe finished as the top scorer in League C during the 2019-20 CNL (7 goals) and will assuredly be out to increase his CNL tally, while a new generation of Cuba players, like Onel Hernandez, will be aiming to impress.
