Havana, September 28 (JIT).- The Cuban Football Association (AFC) announced Thursday the squad to face its upcoming Concacaf Nations League 2023-2024 matches.On this occasion, the Lions of the Caribbean will face Honduras in a double-header on October 12 and 15.
The first of these matches will take place at the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez in the Dominican Republic, and the following one in the Central American nation to conclude their participation in Group B of the top level of this competition.
These clashes are crucial for the future of the Cuban national team, since the permanence at this level and even the qualification to the next stage depend on them, for which, despite the complexity of the opponent, they present objective options.
A draw could keep the category for the team coached by Yunielys Castillo, and thinking about the possibility is not far-fetched, assuming the defensive order achieved by the coach from El Espiritu.
In the two previous matches, the team from the Greater Antilles got four points, after a draw against Haiti and a narrow victory at home against Suriname.
The most remarkable thing about the Cuban senior team is that it has kept a clean sheet in the first two matches, showing a solid defensive performance.
Castillo managed to imprint versatility to his squad, capable of modifying the tactical approach from one game to another, even within the same match in order to keep the goal unbeaten.
Perhaps the short-term challenge for the Cuban coach lies in finding the key that guarantees a better performance up front, where he has given minutes to all the players at his disposal.
On this occasion, the return of star player Onel Hernández, who should take on a leading role in the attacking front, and the incorporation of young Reidel Sánchez, striker of Club Deportivo Atlético Paso, of the RFEF Second Division, generate optimism.
The rest of the players who were called up for Cuba's debut in this edition of the Nations League, with the absences of José Carlos Paradela and Maykel Reyes, return to the call-up for these matches.
Thus, repeating as goalkeepers are Raiko Arozarena, Nelson Jonhston and the young player from Espiritu, recently champion of the 107th National Soccer League with the Marineros de Cienfuegos, Ismel Morgado.
In the defensive sector, the team counts again with men like Alejandro Delgado, Karel Pérez, Dariel Morejón, Orlando Calvo, Yosel Piedra, Modesto Méndez, Mario Peñalver, Jorge Luis Corrales and Carlos Vázquez. The same in the middle with the inclusion of Eduardo Hernandez, Yunior Yuri Perez, Romario Torres and Rey Angel Rodriguez.
In addition to the aforementioned Hernandez and Sanchez, Christian Valiente, William Pozo, Yasnier Matos, Luis Javier Paradela and Daniel Diaz are responsible for the Caribbean forward line.
