Haiti in action in CONCACAF W Qualifiers
When it comes to Haiti, Nerilia Mondesir (picture) and
Melchie Dumornay are the ones to watch. CONCACAF
Caribbean Life, February 18-24, 2022 53
By Nelson A. King
High-flying Haiti was set to
take off on Thursday in Group
E against Honduras in the 2022
CONCACAF W Qualifiers in
what was expected to be a very
exciting encounter, according
to CONCACAF.
It said Nerilia Mondesir and
Melchie Dumornay are the ones
to watch in the encounter.
“Both players have earned
Golden Boot and Golden Ball
awards at various CONCACAF
Youth National Team tournaments,
and now they looking
to take it to another level with
the Senior Women’s National
Team,” said CONCACAF on
Wednesday.
“Honduras will counter
with a squad that have made
great strides in recent years,”
it added. “Las Catrachas took
down regional rivals El Salvador
in a November 2021
friendly and have goal-scoring
threat Linda Moncada back in
the fold.”
CONCACAF said some of
the region’s other top women’s
national teams were also
expected to be in action on
Thursday.
Mexico’s quest for a FIFA
Women’s World Cup return
begins with a home date against
Suriname in the first match of
Group A for both teams.
CONCACAF said El Tricolor
has “a plethora of weapons to
choose from,” including Concacaf
Women’s Player of the
Year nominee and MF Stephany
Mayor of Tigres, FW Katty
Martinez of Club America and
goal-scoring machine Alicia
Cervantes of Chivas.
But “Suriname will not be
fazed, though, as they are coming
off of two solid results in
friendlies with Barbados in late
January in which Orthea Riley
scored in a 1-1 draw, followed
by a narrow 1-0 loss,” CONCACAF
said.
“Another strong performance
from the Suriname
defense could make for an
interesting evening,” it added.
Costa Rica are also keen
to return to its first Women’s
World Cup since Canada 2015
and begin its journey in Group
B against St. Kitts and Nevis.
CONCAF said St. Kitts and
Nevis has enjoyed “a productive
preparation” for the W Qualifiers
with a 3-0 win and 0-0
draw against Anguilla in a pair
of tune-ups.
Jahzara Claxton, Caroline
Springer and Leranja Wilkinson
all scored against Anguilla
and “will look to continue their
good form against the Ticas,”
CONCACAF said.
It said 2019 Women’s World
Cup side Jamaica kicks off its
qualifying campaign in Group C
with a tricky home date against
an improving Bermuda side.
“FW Khadija Shaw will be
the main preoccupation for
Bermuda Head Coach Naquita
Robinson, while Trudi Carter
is also threat in midfield for
the Reggae Girlz,” CONCACAF
said.
It said Bermuda boasts a very
young team with many of the
faces scheduled to play in next
month’s CONCACAF Women’s
Under-20 Championship,
including DF Jaden Masters,
who scored in CWU20 Qualifying.
Panama and Barbados will
each seek winning starts in
Group D when they meet in
Panama, CONCACAF said.
It said the visiting Lady Tridents
did well in a 1-1 draw
and 1-0 win against Suriname
in friendlies last month, with
Alyssa Yard supplying the two
goals.
In Group F, Trinidad and
Tobago and Nicaragua will
battle, with both teams fancying
their chances of winning
the group, according to CONCACAF.