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
Nickname(s)Golden Jaguars
AssociationGuyana Football Federation
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederationCFU (Caribbean)
Head coachJamaal Shabazz
CaptainSam Cox
Most capsWalter Moore (77)
Top scorerNigel Codrington (18)
Home stadiumProvidence Stadium
FIFA codeGUY
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 154 Increase 3 (4 April 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

2023 edit

28 March 2022–23 Nations League Guyana   0–0   Montserrat Wildey, Barbados
19:00 UTC−4 Report Stadium: Wildey Turf
Referee: Keylor Herrera (Costa Rica)
17 June 2023 Gold Cup qualification Guyana   1–1
(5–3 p)
  Grenada Fort Lauderdale, United States
21:00 UTC−4
  • Glasgow   22'
Report
Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium
Referee: Keylor Herrera (Costa Rica)
Penalties
Note: Guyana advance on penalties 5–3
20 June 2023 Gold Cup qualification Guadeloupe   2–0   Guyana Fort Lauderdale, United States
16:30 UTC−4
Report Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium
Referee: Oshane Nation (Jamaica)
Note: Guadeloupe advance to 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup
2 August Friendly Ethiopia   2–0   Guyana Leesburg, United States
19:00 UTC−4
Report Stadium: Segra Field
9 September 2023–24 Nations League Antigua and Barbuda   1–5   Guyana Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda
15:30 UTC−4
  • Deterville   45'
Report
Stadium: ABFA Technical Center
Referee: Mario Escobar (Guatemala)
12 September 2023–24 Nations League Guyana   3–2   Bahamas Leonora, Guyana
18:00 UTC−4
Report
Stadium: Synthetic Track and Field Facility
Referee: Shekiel Jokil (Suriname)
14 October 2023–24 Nations League Puerto Rico   1–3   Guyana Añasco, Puerto Rico
15:00 UTC−4
Report
Stadium: Centro de Desarrollo de Fútbol del Oeste
Referee: Ismael Cornejo (El Salvador)
17 October 2023–24 Nations League Guyana   3–1   Puerto Rico Leonora, Guyana
16:00 UTC−4
Report
Stadium: Synthetic Track and Field Facility
Referee: Sergio Rozenhout (Suriname)
21 November 2023–24 Nations League Guyana   6–0   Antigua and Barbuda Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
20:00 UTC−4
Report Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez
Referee: Sergio Rozenhout (Suriname)


2024 edit

26 March 2024 FIFA Series Guyana   4–1   Cambodia Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
22:00 UTC+3 Report Stadium: Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City

Coaching staff edit

As of 21 November 2023

Head coach   Jamaal Shabazz
Assistant coach   Jeffrey Cofferey
Strength & Conditioning Coach   Raheem Windsor
Team Manager   Moses Stanbury
Goalkeeping coach   Khalid Rutherford
Kitman   Adrian Courtney
Head scout   Christian Sherwood
GFF President   Wayne Forde[7]
Technical director   Lorenzus Taylor

Coaching history edit

Players edit

Current squad edit

The following players were called up for the 2024 FIFA Series friendly matches against Cape Verde and Cambodia on 21 and 25 March 2024.[8]

Caps and goals updated as of 21 November 2023, after the match against Antigua and Barbuda.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Jamain Cumberbatch (1999-04-21) 21 April 1999 (age 25) 0 0   Guyana Defence Force
18 1GK Quillan Roberts (1994-09-13) 13 September 1994 (age 29) 11 0   Western Suburbs
22 1GK Akel Clarke (1988-10-25) 25 October 1988 (age 35) 18 0   Slingerz

2 2DF Leo Lovell (1996-12-06) 6 December 1996 (age 27) 14 1   Slingerz
4 2DF Jeremy Garrett (2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 (age 24) 9 1   Slingerz
5 2DF Jalen Jones (1998-11-13) 13 November 1998 (age 25) 9 0   Aveley
6 2DF Kevin Layne (1998-01-01) 1 January 1998 (age 26) 7 0   Police
7 2DF Marcus Simmons (2000-07-16) 16 July 2000 (age 23) 1 0   Sigma FC
13 2DF Liam Gordon (1999-05-15) 15 May 1999 (age 24) 15 1   Walsall
14 2DF Curtez Kellman (1998-03-06) 6 March 1998 (age 26) 9 0   Slingerz
16 2DF Raushan Ritch (2000-04-05) 5 April 2000 (age 24) 3 0   Western Tigers
19 2DF Quincy Adams (1989-01-07) 7 January 1989 (age 35) 19 1   Slingerz
20 2DF Amos Ramsey (1991-12-20) 20 December 1991 (age 32) 0 0   Guyana Defence Force
21 2DF Colin Nelson (1991-08-09) 9 August 1991 (age 32) 31 1   Guyana Defence Force

3 3MF Nathan Ferguson (1995-10-12) 12 October 1995 (age 28) 0 0   Wealdstone
12 3MF Kadell Daniel (1994-06-03) 3 June 1994 (age 29) 16 3   Margate
15 3MF Ryan Hackett (1999-09-11) 11 September 1999 (age 24) 4 0   Guyana Defence Force
17 3MF Daniel Wilson (1993-11-01) 1 November 1993 (age 30) 48 1   Western Tigers
23 3MF Elliot Bonds (2000-03-23) 23 March 2000 (age 24) 13 0   Cheltenham Town
3MF Darron Niles (2003-05-03) 3 May 2003 (age 20) 3 0   Slingerz

8 4FW Stephen Duke-McKenna (2000-08-17) 17 August 2000 (age 23) 16 1   Sutton United
9 4FW Deon Moore (1999-05-14) 14 May 1999 (age 24) 7 3   Sutton United
10 4FW Omari Glasgow (2003-11-22) 22 November 2003 (age 20) 20 14   Chicago Fire FC II
11 4FW Ryan Khedoo (1999-10-27) 27 October 1999 (age 24) 0 0   Sigma FC

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 Kai McKenzie-Lyle (1997-11-30) 30 November 1997 (age 26) 12 1   Welling United 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
GK Renell McKenzie-Lyle (2000-04-19) 19 April 2000 (age 24) 0 0 Free agent 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
GK Joshua Narine (2003-01-22) 22 January 2003 (age 21) 0 0 Unknown v.   Montserrat, 28 March 2023

DF Jonathan Grant (1993-10-16) 16 October 1993 (age 30) 3 0   York United 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
DF Marcus Wilson (2002-04-19) 19 April 2002 (age 22) 3 0   Caledonia United v.   Montserrat, 28 March 2023
DF Bayli Spencer-Adams (2001-06-26) 26 June 2001 (age 22) 2 0   Leicester City v.   Montserrat, 28 March 2023

MF Sam Cox (1990-10-10) 10 October 1990 (age 33) 32 0   Welling United 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
MF Kelsey Benjamin (1999-05-08) 8 May 1999 (age 24) 19 2   Guyana Defence Force 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
MF Neil Danns (1982-11-23) 23 November 1982 (age 41) 22 11   Macclesfield 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
MF Trayon Bobb (1993-01-05) 5 January 1993 (age 31) 51 12   Western Tigers 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
MF Nathan Moriah-Welsh (2002-03-18) 18 March 2002 (age 22) 10 1   Newport County v.   Montserrat, 28 March 2023

FW Tré Mitford (1994-12-27) 27 December 1994 (age 29) 5 0   Telford United 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
FW Emery Welshman (1991-11-09) 9 November 1991 (age 32) 25 11   Sigma FC 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
FW Callum Harriott (1994-03-04) 4 March 1994 (age 30) 9 1   York City 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification
FW Pernell Schultz (1994-04-07) 7 April 1994 (age 30) 22 5   Police v.   Montserrat, 28 March 2023
FW Morgan Ferrier (1994-11-15) 15 November 1994 (age 29) 0 0   Hapoel Acre vs.   Bermuda, 25 March 2023

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

Player records edit

As of 26 March 2024[9]
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 Charles Pollard 60 3 1996–2012
3 Anthony Abrams 58 15 2004–2017
Daniel Wilson 58 1 2011–present
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 Shawn Beveney 37 7 2004–2012

Top goalscorers edit

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Nigel Codrington 18 26 0.69 2001–2010
2 Gregory Richardson 17 46 0.37 2002–2019
3 Omari Glasgow 16 22 0.73 2021–present
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

Competitive record edit

FIFA World Cup edit

FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup qualification
Year Round Position Pld W D* L F A Pld W D* L F A
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 To be determined
      2030
  2034
Total 0/13 38 8 6 24 40 89

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 Did not qualify
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 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 World Ranking". FIFA. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 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. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 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. ^ [1][dead link]
  8. ^ "GOLDEN JAGUARS SQUAD UNVIELED FOR FIFA SERIES IN SAUDI ARABIA". Guyana Football Federation. 17 March 2024 – via Facebook.
  9. ^ "Guyana". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2022.

External links edit