The Reggae Girlz have officially named their 23-player roster for their second CONCACAF W Qualifiers match, an away clash against group leaders Nicaragua Women’s National Team on March 2 at the Nicaragua National Stadium.
The squad announcement sets the stage for what promises to be a critical encounter in Group B, with Jamaica sitting second on three points after a record-breaking 18-0 opening win over Dominica, while Nicaragua leads the table with six points from two games.
Busby: “It’s going to be a much harder game”
Speaking at the press conference, head coach Hubert Busby Jr. emphasized that the upcoming match presents a significant step up in competition.
“We know it’ll be a different match and a little bit more of a challenge,” Busby said. “They are a better-quality opposition based on their rankings, and coming in, they’re leading the group with two wins, so it’ll be a much harder game.”
Despite the tougher assignment, Busby expressed confidence in his team’s ability to secure a positive result, stressing the importance of sticking to the Girlz’ principles of play.
“It’s really about making sure that we remain true to our style, mindset, and discipline in how we execute,” he added.
Tactical prep: Studying the opposition
Busby highlighted that having observed Nicaragua’s previous matches has allowed his coaching staff to develop a clear plan.
“We’ve done our work as a staff,” he explained. “The good thing is, we’ve been able to watch them in two games leading into ours. There are some quality players on their squad, so we’ve got a match plan that we’re going to look to execute in the four days we have as a lead into the match.”
Shaw to lead the attack
At the forefront of Jamaica’s offense will be striker Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw, who has returned to the national fold following her prolific season with Manchester City Women, where she tallied 15 goals and four assists in 16 appearances in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
Busby stressed the importance of maximizing Shaw’s strengths.
“It’s how do we get the best out of her within our environment,” he said. “We feel she’s arguably the best striker in the world, and why wouldn’t we want to put her in the best position to use all her qualities?”
Road to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2028 Olympics
The winner of Group B will advance to the CONCACAF W Championships, which serve as the qualifying pathway to both the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. With the stakes high, Busby and the Reggae Girlz are preparing for a critical showdown on Nicaraguan soil.
Squad: Goalkeepers – Sydney Schneider, Rebecca Spencer, Liya Brooks; Defenders – Tianna Harris, Konya Plummer, Chantelle Swaby, Naya Cardoza, Kameron Simmonds, Tiffany Cameron, Allyson Swaby; Midfielders – Olufolasade Adamolekun, Atlanta Primus, Deneisha Blackwood, Israela Groves, Jade Bailey, Trudi Carter; Forwards – Kayla McKenna, Shaniel Buckley, Natasha Thomas, Shania Hayles, Solai Washington, Kalyssa Van Zanten, Khadija Shaw.
