Guyana’s bid for a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics began with a frustrating 3-1 defeat to Nicaragua in their CONCACAF Women’s Qualifier opener on Monday evening.
The match at the National Track and Field Facility saw the Lady Jags fall short against a determined Nicaraguan side who punished defensive lapses, particularly in the opening half.
The home side was on the back foot almost immediately. Nicaragua’s Sheyla Flores capitalised on an errant back-pass to give the visitors the lead in just the third minute.
Guyana responded well, however, as Annalisa Vincent, a consistent threat in the final third, powered home a towering header in the 18th minute to level the score.
The respite was short-lived. Ten minutes before half-time, Nuria Marquez put Nicaragua back in front with a brilliant solo effort that beat the home defence.
The decisive blow came just four minutes after the resumption of play when Doriana Aguilar extended the lead to 3-1, tapping home a cross from Flores to silence the frustrated home crowd. Nicaragua held firm to secure the vital opening win in Group B.
The result leaves Guyana facing an uphill battle in Group B, a competitive five-team group.
The group winner will secure one of the six places available for the 2026 Concacaf W Championship, which acts as the final qualification stage for the World Cup and Olympics.
Guyana is currently ranked 12th in CONCACAF, entering the group as the second-highest ranked team behind regional powerhouse Jamaica (5th). Nicaragua (18th), along with Dominica (27th) and Antigua and Barbuda (19th), completes the group.
The Lady Jags will now regroup before their next qualifier against Dominica in February 2026.
Guyana Starting XI: Raven Edwards-Dowdall, Serena Modonald, Hope Windebank, Brianne Desa (captain), Kristen Bettencourt, Otesha Charles, Samantha Banfield, Annalisa Vincent, Sandra Johnson, Anika Sproxton, Rylee Traicoff
Nicaragua Starting XI: Greta Genie, Lisbeth Moreno, Erica Cunningham, Nathaly Silva, Nuria Marquez, Hannah Lee, Sheyla Flores, Yorcelly Humphreys (captain), Doriana Aguilar, Jenifer Sarantes, Tania Centeno
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