Guyana national football team

The Guyana national football team, nicknamed the Golden Jaguars, represents Guyana in international football and is controlled by the Guyana Football Federation. It is one of three South American nations to be a member of the Caribbean Football Union of CONCACAF alongside Suriname and French Guiana. Until the independence of Guyana (1966), it competed as British Guiana. They qualified for the Caribbean Nations Cup in 1991, coming fourth, and in 2007. Guyana has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but on 23 March 2019 they qualified for the first time for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Guyana
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Golden Jaguars
AssociationGuyana Football Federation
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederationCFU (Caribbean)
Head coachJamaal Shabazz
CaptainDaniel Wilson
Most capsWalter Moore (77)
Top scorerOmari Glasgow (19)
Home stadiumProvidence Stadium
FIFA codeGUY
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 154 Increase 7 (28 November 2024)[1]
Highest86 (November 2010)
Lowest185 (February 2004)
First international
 British Guiana 1–4 Trinidad and Tobago 
(British Guiana; 21 July 1905)[2]
Biggest win
 Guyana 14–0 Anguilla 
(St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda; 16 April 1998)
Biggest defeat
Netherlands Surinam 9–0 British Guiana 
(Netherlands Antilles; 17 February 1952)
Netherlands Surinam 9–0 British Guiana 
(Aruba; 9 February 1953)
 Guyana 0–9 Mexico 
(Santa Ana, United States; 2 December 1987)
Gold Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2019)
Best resultGroup stage (2019)

History

edit

British Guiana (1905–59)

edit

Guyana (as British Guiana) played its first international football match on 21 July 1905, a 4–1 defeat against nearby and fellow British colony Trinidad and Tobago. Their next recorded game came almost 16 years later on 28 January 1921, an away 2–1 win against its neighbour Suriname. The two played again in Suriname on 27 August 1923, and on that occasion the hosts won 2–1. British Guiana did not play another match until 1937, when they lost two matches against Trinidad and Tobago in Suriname: 3–0 and 3–2. After seven years without a match, British Guiana entered a three-team tournament in Trinidad & Tobago against its national side and Barbados. They won twice against Barbados (1–0 and 3–0) before drawing 1–1 and losing 3–0 to Trinidad and Tobago. In the final of this Trinagular tournament they again lost 3–0 to Trinidad and Tobago.

In November 1947 British Guiana played in a Standard Life tournament in Trinidad and Tobago. They beat the hosts 2–1 in their opening game on 5 November before beating Jamaica 2–0 the very next day. On 10 November they drew 0–0 with Jamaica before losing 2–0 to Trinidad and Tobago in the last game on 14 November.

British Guiana played its first home games in 1950 against Trinidad and Tobago: these were British Guiana's first matches since the Standard Life tournament. British Guiana lost 1–0 and 4–1 before winning 1–0. The last match played under the name British Guiana was the next match on 2 March 1959 – a 2–2 draw against Trinidad and Tobago.[4]

Guyana

edit

After independence in 1966, Guyana did not play a match for five years. Their first fixtures under their new name were qualifiers for the 1971 CONCACAF Championship against Suriname. The first match, away, was lost 4–1 and the home match on 21 September 1971 was lost 3–2 as Suriname advanced 7–3 on aggregate. In 1976 Guyana entered its first ever World Cup qualification campaign with the aim of reaching the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina. Guyana and Suriname were drawn in a two-legged preliminary in the Caribbean section of CONCACAF qualification and Guyana won the first leg 2–0 at home on 4 July 1976. The second leg in Paramaribo was lost 3–0 which allowed Suriname to advance.[4]

2006

edit

Guyana had a remarkable calendar year in 2006, with eleven successive wins, including five CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers[5] These results boosted Guyana's spot in the FIFA World Rankings by 87 spots in little over a year. As a consequence, the team rose to the top 12 in CONCACAF and were in the third rank of seeds in the World Cup qualifying draw.

Caribbean Nations Cup 2007

edit

At the 2006–07 Caribbean Nations Cup, Guyana finished top of Group A in Stage One, then top of Group H in Stage Two (which they hosted), and finished 3rd in the Bobby Sookram Group, missing out on a semi-final berth on goal difference alone. Had Guyana reached the semi-finals, they would have qualified for the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

2014 World Cup qualifying

edit

With the return of international coach Jamaal Shabazz, Guyana finished top of a group containing Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Bermuda to reach the third round of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. They qualified with one game to go with a 2–1 home win against Trinidad and Tobago on 11 November 2011.

Guyana organised friendly matches against Colombia, Bolivia, Jamaica and Panama for the first team. In the third round group, they finished last, behind Mexico, Costa Rica and El Salvador, with one point from their six matches.

Lack of football 2013/14

edit

From November 2012 to October 2014 Guyana did not play a single international fixture. This amongst other factors led to FIFA stepping in and removing the GFF executive at the end of 2014.[6]

2015 and 2016 return of the Golden Jaguars

edit

With FIFA stepping into Guyana once again, a FIFA Normalisation Committee was installed to regularise football in Guyana. With this came the search for a National Team Head Coach with Jamaal Shabazz reinstalled initially for one game versus Barbados in Jan 2015. As Guyana had lost many first team players to retirement since 2012, the squad was a new younger group with major gaps in the goalkeeper and defensive areas.

However a 2–2 draw with Barbados was enough for Shabazz and his staff, consisting of assistant coach Wayne Wiggy Dover, Operations Manager Mark Xavier, Team Manager Faizal Khan, Kit Man Trevor Burnett, GoalKeeper Coach Andrew Hazell, Physical Trainer Anson Ambrose, Medical Officer Denzil Hernandez.

Results and fixtures

edit

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2024

edit
21 March 2024 FIFA Series Cape Verde   1–0   Guyana Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
22:00 UTC+3 Mendes   2' Report Stadium: Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City
Referee: Shukri Al-Hunfush (Saudi Arabia)
26 March 2024 FIFA Series Guyana   4–1   Cambodia Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
22:00 UTC+3 Report Stadium: Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City
6 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Panama   2–0   Guyana Panama City, Panama
19:30 UTC−5
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Stadium: Estadio Rommel Fernández
Attendance: 8,575
Referee: Filiberto Martinez (El Salvador)
11 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Guyana   3–1   Belize Wildey, Barbados
18:00 UTC−4
Report (FIFA)
Report (CONCACAF)
Stadium: Wildey Turf
Referee: Reon Radix (Grenada)
5 September 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League Guyana   1–3   Suriname Leonora, Guyana
16:00 UTC−4 Glasgow   43' (pen.) Report
Stadium: Synthetic Track and Field Facility, Leonora
Attendance: 500[7]
Referee: Christopher Mason (Jamaica)
9 September 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League Martinique   2–2   Guyana Fort-de-France, Martinique
20:00 UTC−4
Report Jones   14', 24' Stadium: Stade Pierre-Aliker, Fort-de-France
Attendance: 220[8]
Referee: Kwinsi Williams (Trinidad and Tobago)
11 October 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League Guyana   1-3   Guatemala Leonora, Guyana
21:00 UTC−6
Report
Stadium: National Track and Field Leonora
Referee: Ismael Cornejo (El Salvador)
15 October 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League Suriname   5-1   Guyana Paramaribo, Suriname
20:00 UTC−3
Report
Stadium: Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion
Referee: Steffon Dewar (Jamaica)

2025

edit
6 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Nicaragua   v   Guyana TBA
Report Stadium: TBA
10 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Guyana   v   Montserrat TBA
Report Stadium: TBA

Coaching staff

edit

As of 21 November 2023

Head coach   Jamaal Shabazz
Assistant coach   Ibraheem Anil
Strength & Conditioning Coach   Renzo Patel
Team Manager   Tyrese Stanley
Goalkeeping coach   Evon Cobaine
Kitman   Hal Portius
Head scout   Romild Christie
GFF President   Wayne Forde[9]
Technical director   Gennarius Huxley

Coaching history

edit

Players

edit

Current squad

edit

The following players were called up for the 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League A matches against Guatemala and Suriname on 11 and 15 October 2024.[10]

Caps and goals updated as of 15 October 2024, after the match against   Suriname.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Akel Clarke (1988-10-25) 25 October 1988 (age 36) 21 0   Slingerz
1GK Quillan Roberts (1994-09-13) 13 September 1994 (age 30) 20 0   Western Suburbs
1GK Kai McKenzie-Lyle (1997-11-30) 30 November 1997 (age 26) 13 1   Oxford City

2DF Colin Nelson (1991-08-09) 9 August 1991 (age 33) 39 1   Guyana Defence Force
2DF Leo Lovell (1996-12-06) 6 December 1996 (age 27) 27 2   Slingerz
2DF Liam Gordon (1999-05-15) 15 May 1999 (age 25) 22 2   Walsall
2DF Terence Vancooten (1997-12-29) 29 December 1997 (age 26) 21 1   Burton Albion
2DF Jalen Jones (1998-11-13) 13 November 1998 (age 26) 17 1   Oxford City
2DF Curtez Kellman (1998-03-06) 6 March 1998 (age 26) 17 0   Slingerz
2DF Jeremy Garrett (2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 (age 24) 15 1   Slingerz
2DF Reiss Greenidge (1996-08-10) 10 August 1996 (age 28) 8 0   Maidstone United
2DF Raushan Ritch (2000-04-05) 5 April 2000 (age 24) 5 0   Slingerz

3MF Daniel Wilson (1993-11-01) 1 November 1993 (age 31) 65 1   Western Tigers
3MF Stephen Duke-McKenna (2000-08-17) 17 August 2000 (age 24) 26 2   Harrogate Town
3MF Kadell Daniel (1994-06-03) 3 June 1994 (age 30) 25 3   Croydon Athletic
3MF Nathan Moriah-Welsh (2002-03-18) 18 March 2002 (age 22) 20 3   Hibernian
3MF Ryan Hackett (1999-09-11) 11 September 1999 (age 25) 11 0   Guyana Defence Force
3MF Nathan Ferguson (1995-10-12) 12 October 1995 (age 29) 8 0   Maidenhead United

4FW Kelsey Benjamin (1999-05-08) 8 May 1999 (age 25) 36 8   Guyana Defence Force
4FW Omari Glasgow (2003-11-22) 22 November 2003 (age 21) 28 17   Chicago Fire FC II
4FW Deon Moore (1999-05-14) 14 May 1999 (age 25) 15 5   Woking F.C.
4FW Osaze De Rosario (2001-07-19) 19 July 2001 (age 23) 5 1   Tacoma Defiance
4FW Isaiah Jones (1999-06-26) 26 June 1999 (age 25) 4 2   Middlesbrough
4FW Benjamin Opara (1994-04-19) 19 April 1994 (age 30) 0 0   Guyana Defence Force

Recent call-ups

edit

The following players have been called up within the past year.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Jamain Cumberbatch (1999-04-21) 21 April 1999 (age 25) 2 0   Guyana Defence Force v.   Cambodia; 26 March 2024

DF Samuel Cox (1990-10-10) 10 October 1990 (age 34) 35 0   Oxford City v.   Martinique; 9 September 2024RET
DF Quincy Adams (1989-01-07) 7 January 1989 (age 35) 26 1   Slingerz v.   Belize; 11 June 2024
DF Miquel Scarlett (2000-09-27) 27 September 2000 (age 24) 6 0   Chatham Town v.   Panama; 7 June 2024
DF Terique Mohammed (2000-01-27) 27 January 2000 (age 24) 1 0   Des Moines Menace v.   Trinidad and Tobago; 15 May 2024
DF Kevin Layne (1998-01-01) 1 January 1998 (age 26) 10 0   Police v.   Cambodia; 26 March 2024
DF Marcus Simmons (2000-07-16) 16 July 2000 (age 24) 1 0   Sigma FC v.   Cambodia; 26 March 2024
DF Amos Ramsey (1991-12-20) 20 December 1991 (age 32) 4 0   Guyana Defence Force v.   Cambodia; 26 March 2024

MF Elliot Bonds (2000-03-23) 23 March 2000 (age 24) 21 0   Fleetwood Town v.   Martinique; 9 September 2024
MF Darron Niles (2003-05-03) 3 May 2003 (age 21) 4 0   Slingerz v.   Belize; 9 June 2024

FW Ryan Khedoo (1999-10-27) 27 October 1999 (age 25) 1 1   St. Charles FC v.   Cambodia; 26 March 2024

INJ Withdrew due to injury.
PRE Preliminary squad.
RET Retired from the national team.
WD Withdrew for personal reasons.

Player records

edit
As of 15 October 2024[11]
Players in bold are still active with Guyana.

Most appearances

edit
 
Walter Moore is Guyana's most capped player with 77 appearances.
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Walter Moore 77 5 2004–2019
2 Daniel Wilson 65 1 2011–present
3 Charles Pollard 60 3 1996–2012
4 Anthony Abrams 58 15 2004–2017
5 Trayon Bobb 51 12 2011–present
6 Howard Lowe 46 1 2002–2010
Gregory Richardson 46 17 2002–2019
8 Dwain Jacobs 42 1 2008–2017
9 Kayode McKinnon 41 4 2002–2012
10 Colin Nelson 39 1 2009–present

Top goalscorers

edit
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Nigel Codrington 18 26 0.69 2001–2010
2 Omari Glasgow 17 28 0.61 2021–present
Gregory Richardson 17 46 0.37 2002–2019
4 Anthony Abrams 15 58 0.26 2004–2017
5 Trayon Bobb 12 51 0.24 2011–present
6 Neil Danns 11 25 0.44 2015–2023
Emery Welshman 11 28 0.39 2015–present
8 Randolph Jerome 9 21 0.43 1998–2008
Sheldon Holder 9 34 0.26 2011–2021
10 Vurlon Mills 8 32 0.25 2011–2019
Kelsey Benjamin 8 36 0.22 2017–present

Competitive record

edit

FIFA World Cup

edit
FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup qualification
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D* L GF GA
1930 to 1970 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
  1974 Did not enter Declined participation
  1978 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 2 3
  1982 6 2 0 4 8 13
  1986 2 0 1 1 1 2
  1990 2 0 0 2 0 5
  1994 2 0 1 1 2 3
  1998 2 0 0 2 1 8
    2002 Suspended by FIFA Suspended by FIFA
  2006 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 1 8
  2010 2 0 0 2 1 3
  2014 12 4 2 6 14 30
  2018 2 0 2 0 6 6
  2022 4 1 0 3 4 8
      2026 To be determined 2 1 0 1 3 3
      2030 To be determined
  2034
Total 0/13 40 9 6 25 43 92

CONCACAF Gold Cup

edit
CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Pld W D* L GF GA
  1963 Did not enter Did not enter
  1965
  1967
  1969
  1971
  1973
  1977 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 2 3
  1981 6 2 0 4 8 13
1985 2 0 1 1 1 2
1989 2 0 0 2 0 5
  1991 6 2 1 3 9 15
    1993 3 1 0 2 3 7
  1996 2 0 0 2 0 7
  1998 Did not enter Did not enter
  2000 Did not qualify 5 1 2 2 19 12
  2002 3 2 0 1 4 3
    2003 2 1 0 1 2 2
  2005 Withdrew Withdrew
  2007 Did not qualify 9 7 1 1 28 7
  2009 5 1 3 1 7 5
  2011 3 0 1 2 1 6
  2013 8 4 0 4 15 11
    2015 3 0 1 2 0 4
  2017 6 3 0 3 21 12
      2019 Group stage 13th 3 0 1 2 3 9 Squad 4 3 0 1 14 3
  2021 Did not qualify 7 3 1 3 12 14
    2023 8 3 2 3 9 17
Total Group stage 1/27 3 0 1 2 3 9 86 34 13 39 155 148

CONCACAF Nations League

edit
CONCACAF Nations League record
League Finals
Season Division Group Pld W D L GF GA P/R Finals Result Pld W D L GF GA Squad
2019–20 B C 6 3 1 2 12 10     2021 Ineligible
2022–23 B B 6 3 1 2 8 14     2023
2023–24 B D 5 5 0 0 20 5     2024
2024–25 A A To be determined   2025 To be determined
Total 17 11 2 4 40 29 Total 0 Titles

Caribbean Cup

edit
CFU Championship & Caribbean Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
  1978 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 1 4
  1979 Did not enter Did not enter
  1981
  1983 Did not qualify 4 1 2 1 3 5
  1985 2 1 1 0 1 1
  1988 2 0 0 2 0 5
  1989 Did not enter Did not enter
  1990 Did not qualify 3 0 2 1 1 6
  1991 Fourth place 4th 4 1 0 3 4 14 2 1 1 0 5 1
  1992 Did not qualify 3 1 1 1 4 5
  1993 3 1 0 2 3 7
  1994 2 0 0 2 1 4
    1995 2 0 0 2 0 7
  1996 2 1 0 1 3 3
    1997 4 1 1 2 5 9
    1998 3 1 1 1 17 4
  1999 2 0 1 1 2 4
  2001 3 2 0 1 4 3
  2005 Withdrew Withdrew
  2007 Group stage 5th 3 1 1 1 4 5 6 6 0 0 24 2
  2008 Did not qualify 5 1 3 1 7 5
  2010 Group stage 8th 3 0 1 2 1 6 6 4 1 1 9 4
  2012 Did not qualify 6 3 0 3 11 9
  2014 3 0 1 2 0 4
  2017 6 3 0 3 21 12
Total Fourth place 3/25 10 2 2 6 9 25 71 27 15 29 122 104

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago – List of International Matches". Rsssf.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  3. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Guyana – List of International Matches". Rsssf.com. Rec.Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  5. ^ "Guyana: Fixtures and Results". FIFA. Archived from the original on 30 June 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  6. ^ "A brief history of football in Guyana". Worldsoccer.com. 20 September 2014. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Suriname 3-1 Guyana (Sep 5, 2024) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Martinique 2-2 Guyana (Sep 9, 2024) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  9. ^ [1][dead link]
  10. ^ "Squad List". Guyana Football Federation – via Facebook.
  11. ^ "Guyana". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
edit