With the senior side hoping to qualify for the next round in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers via a protest following a disastrous campaign, history will be against the Golden Jaguars u-23 squad when they open their CFU 2016 Olympic Qualifiers today against hosts Antigua and Barbuda.
While Guyana is relatively new at the u-23 Olympic Qualifiers level, the head to head numbers will be severely against the Golden Jaguars when they step out at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St John’s.
In terms of the Men’s-A matches, Guyana has been on the winning side only three occasions in the nine meetings between the two sides, with the host nation securing five wins among a solitary drawn fixture.
Further analysis of the numbers indicate that the home side will enter the match as firm favourites as they have tasted victories in the last four meetings between the two CFU outfits.
The most recent meeting resulted in a 1-0 victory for Antigua and Barbuda on November 29th 2011 while the current hosts also prevailed on June 3rd 2009 via a 2-1 score line, 2-1 on November 7th 2008 and 3-0 on September 21st 2008.
Guyana’s last recorded win against Antigua and Barbuda came almost nine years ago on November 24th 2006 by an emphatic 6-0 margin. Prior to that victory, they would also secure wins during the same year on February 24th and 26th via 2-1 and 4-1 score lines respectively.
In terms of the overall goal-scoring numbers, Guyana leads Antigua and Barbuda 17-14. However a closer look at the last four meetings reveals that Antigua and Barbuda lead the goals scored aggregate by an impressive 8-2 margin.
In reference to squad, Head-Coach Jamal Shabazz will have the services of goalkeepers Anthony Whyte and Jason Cromwell alongside Daniel Whyte, Less Charles Critchlow, Joshua Brown, Clive Williams, William Europe, Sherwin Skeete, Stephan Ramsey, Jermaine Junior, Trayon Bobb, Kadell Daniel, Daniel Wilson, Leo Lovell, Kareem Knights, Delon Lanferman, Jamaal Harvey, Shaquille Agard, Domini Garnet and Pernel Schultz.
Upon the conclusion of their first match, Guyana will continue their campaign on June 26th against Aruba before ending their campaign against giants Cuba on the 28th. All matches will be contested at the same venue.
Winners of the groups will progress to the final round of the tourney between August 14th and 16th to contest an elimination tournament. The top two teams from this section will advance to the 2015 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship, joining the trio of Mexico, USA and Canada.
