Selección cubana de fútbol
Havana, Aug. 23 (JIT) - The Cuban national team will begin its action in the CONCACAF Nations League 2024-2025 as an away team against Jamaica, in a match scheduled for September 6 in Kingston.
Four days later, to close the first window, they will face Nicaragua at the Antonio Maceo Stadium in Santiago de Cuba. The choice of the venue responds to the efforts of the Cuban Football Association (AFC) for this competition to return to its premises.
The main objective is to remain in the A level of the tournament, in which they will play for the second consecutive season, a milestone that has no precedent in the history of this sport on the island.
The first of these matches is expected to be the most difficult for the team coached by Yunielys Castillo, taking into account the quality and location of the Reggae Boyz.
Against the Nicaraguans, it can be considered as a walkover, but not because it is less complex. The last meeting between the two teams ended in a one-goal-nothing victory for the Cubans, despite playing away in Managua.
Presumably, the performances of Maykel Reyes, Alejandro Delgado, Rey Angel Rodriguez and Mario Peñalver, who like goalkeeper Ismel Morgado, are familiar with Nicaraguan soccer because they play in the leagues of the Central American country, will be vital.
Once again, the national coach has put together a roster that mixes newcomers with some more experienced players, among them some members of the U-20 team that had an excellent performance in the CONCACAF championship, such as goalkeeper Yurdy Hodelin, winner of the golden glove.
In the list unveiled by Castillo, the call-up of young Diego Catasus, who plays in Italian soccer, and the return of Onel Hernández, Norwich City striker, with experience in the Premier League, stand out.
Regarding the performance of some of the players called up on this occasion -who are also part of the U-20 team- the AFC secretary, Miguel Angel Perez, announced to JIT that they are working on the recruitment of several of these players to join soccer in Costa Rica.
