Reggae Girlz head coach Hubert Busby said their goal is to impress home fans when the Girlz take on Antigua and Barbuda today in Group B action of the Concacaf W Qualifiers at the National Stadium.
The Girlz will take to the field as overwhelming favourites against Antigua with kick-off set for 7 p.m.
It will be the first of the two W Qualifiers in the April window as the Girlz will also face Guyana at the National Stadium on April 18.
Today’s game will mark the first time the Girlz will be playing at home since December 2024, which Busby said has brought waves of excitement throughout the camp.
“The most important thing for us is that it’s been a while since we’ve been on home soil,” the Reggae Girlz boss said. “It’s great to be back in Jamaica as a group. I know the players have been waiting for that for a long time.”
He continued: “We want to make sure that we get the results but also do well in front of our people. So I know the camp has been good thus far, and, obviously, looking forward to the match tomorrow.”
The Girlz sit atop Group B with six points with a perfect record of two wins from as many games played.
Nicaragua and Guyana sit second and third in the group, respectively, tied with six points each, but are behind Jamaica on goal difference.
The Girlz are the overwhelming favourites for today’s game and are expected to finish comfortably atop the group.
Antigua, having lost their first two games, are mathematically eliminated from World Cup contention.
However, Busby said each game would come with its own challenges as the Girlz now navigate the Concacaf region as one of the top teams.
“At the end of the day, it’s World Cup Qualifiers. We all know what that means. We all know that in reality, everybody needs to win those matches, and we understand the significance of winning those matches,” he explained.
“Every game poses a different problem. The next two games for us really is about the focus on Antigua,” he continued.
“We know now that they’ve been officially eliminated. So that comes with a different sort of challenge. The reality is that they can, maybe, play with a little more freedom than they did before. That pressure is off for them.”
THE HUNTED
Busby said as the top team in the group, and one of the top teams in the region, the Girlz now face the reality of being the hunted.
Where their two previous qualification campaigns saw them compete as underdogs, the expectation is now higher than ever for his players.
“We speak now about what it means to be the hunted. It’s slightly different from us being the hunter for the last couple of years. So that comes with a different challenge as well. We have to be prepared for that,” Busby explained.
“We’ll deal with Antigua, turn the page, take the learnings and findings from that, and then move on to the next match. But right now, our sole focus is dealing with what we need to do and take care of business with Antigua tomorrow.”
The winners of Group B will advance to the Concacaf W Championship, which will be played in November this year.
The W Championship will serve as the qualification tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Reggae Girlz squad
Goalkeepers: Rebecca Spencer, Sydney Schneider, Liya Brooks
Defenders: Allyson Swaby, Chantelle Swaby, Tianna Harris, Vyan Sampson, Amelia Van Zanten, Kameron Simmonds
Midfielders: Drew Spence, Trudi Carter, Atlanta Primus, Olufolasade Adamolekun, Deneisha Blackwood, Shaneil Buckley
Forwards: Khadija “Bunny” Shaw (C), Jody Brown, Kayla McKenna, Natasha Thomas, Shania Hayles, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Solai Washington, Kalyssa Van Zanten
