Jamaica, Guatemala out to defend group leads in League A | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League continues with teams in League A competing to advance to the quarterfinals as the group stage winds down.

Headlined by a meeting for a top spot between Jamaica and Honduras, Group B will be in action on Monday. Costa Rica and Guatemala will also face off in a first-place battle as part of Group A matchups on Tuesday.

The first and second-place finishers of each group in League A will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will join the four top-ranked League A teams.

Jamaica vs. Honduras

Jamaica hosts Honduras at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica with first place in Group B at stake. The match will be the second between the nations this CNL campaign after Jamaica’s 2-1 win on September 10 in Honduras.

Jamaica enters the match first in Group B with seven points and an eye on securing its place in the next round following consecutive wins away from home. André Blake will be a player to watch one the Reggae Boyz squad after an impressive six saves and a clean sheet in the previous game.

Honduras is second in the group with six points and will search for consecutive road wins after defeating French Guiana. Los Catrachos were guided to the victory by goals from Antony Lozano, Deybi Flores, and Jorge Benguché.

The meeting will be 30th overall across all competitions. Each side holds 12 wins in the all-time series and five draws.

Trinidad and Tobago vs. Cuba

Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba will meet in Group B at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago. It will be a second consecutive matchup between the nations after a 2-2 draw last Thursday.

Trinidad and Tobago will strive to secure its first win of the campaign after securing consecutive draws. With his goal in the 2-2 draw against Cuba, Joevin Jones took his tally to four to become the all-time top scorer in the CNL for Trinidad and Tobago.

Cuba will play the away match for its first win after three consecutive draws. The nation has lost only one of its last 12 CNL fixtures.

Trinidad and Tobago leads the all-time series, with 13 wins to six for Cuba. Seven matches resulted in draws.

Nicaragua vs. French Guiana

Nicaragua will face French Guiana at the Estadio Nacional in Managua, Nicaragua. The match will mark the second meeting between the sides in the 2024/25 CNL, with Nicaragua winning 1-nil in the competition’s opening matchday.

Nicaragua is currently third in Group B with four points and will aim to bounce back from its recent defeat. Widman Talavera scored two goals in the group stage and will be a player to watch.

League A debutant French Guiana will look to close out the group stage with its first win. A victory could help the nation climb out of the last place spot in the group.

Costa Rica vs. Guatemala

Costa Rica will host Guatemala at the Estadio Nacional in San José, Costa Rica, with the Group A lead on the line. The match will be the second between the Central American nations this season following a goalless draw on September 9 in Guatemala City.

The fixture will present 21st overall. Costa Rica has won nine times, Guatemala six times, and five matches ended in a draw.

Costa Rica enters the fixture currently second in Group A with five points and an unbeaten record. Los Ticos will seek to secure the top spot in the group and a quarterfinal berth with a victory.

Guatemala will want to maintain the pole position in the group. Los Chapines are currently first with seven points and unbeaten after two wins and a draw. Guatemala most recently earned a valuable 3-1 win on the road against Guyana this past Friday. Oscar Santis bagged a brace in the win and will be important for his team’s attack in the visit to San José.

Martinique vs. Guadeloupe

Martinique and Guadeloupe will meet in Group A at the Stade Roger Zami in Le Gosier, Guadeloupe. Martinique earned a 1-nil on the road this past Friday.

Martinique leads the all-time series with 11 wins, to three for Guadeloupe. The teams have also played out four draws.

After earning its first win of the campaign, Martinique will look to keep the positive momentum with a consecutive victory. A goal by Brighton Lebeau led the team to win in the previous match.

Guadeloupe is currently fifth with three points and will eye its second win of the campaign.

Suriname vs. Guyana

The League A group stage action concludes with Suriname hosting Guyana at the Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadium in Paramaribo, Suriname. The sides met in the group stage opening matchday, where Suriname secured a 3-1 win on the road.

The encounter will be the 31st overall across all competitions in their history. Suriname leads the series with 18 wins to six for Guyana, with six meetings ending in draws.

Suriname is third in the group with four points and will eye a win to claim one of the top two spots in the group. A place in the quarterfinals is also at stake following a valuable draw against Costa Rica.

Gleofilo Vlijter will be an exciting player to watch after scoring to reach 12 goals and extend his lead as the country’s all-time leading scorer in the competition. Ricardo Rivera of Puerto Rico is second among the top scorers in the history of the CNL.

League A debutant Guyana will aim to close out the group stage with its first win. The Golden Jaguars have claimed a point thus far.