Martinique vs Panama
Panama’s Aníbal Godoy (L) vies for the ball with Costa Rica’s Jimmy Marín (R) during their Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Concacaf qualifier match at the Rommel Fernandez stadium in Panama City, on September 2, 2021. (Photo by ROGELIO FIGUEROA / AFP) (Photo by ROGELIO FIGUEROA/AFP via Getty Images)
Will Panama, pretty much, secure their place at next summer’s CONCACAF Nations League Finals with a victory in Fort-de-France?
So far, los Canaleros have won both home matches in this competition, first overcoming a youthful Costa Rica team 2-0.
Then, last Sunday, Thomas Christiansen’ side hammered Martinique 5-0 at Estadio Olímpico Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez.
Gabriel Torres and Fidel Escobar on target, either side of an own goal from Karl Vitulin, before Yoel Bárcenas bagged a late brace.
So, la Marea Roja are three points clear at the top of Group B, needing four more points to guarantee they’ll be going to the finals tournament.
Martinique meanwhile are just battling to avoid relegation down to League B.
Les Matinino are yet to get off the mark in 2022, going down 2-0 in San José before that 5-0 drubbing in Panama City.
Marc Collat’s side survived in League A last time round, ousting Trinidad & Tobago, thereby qualifying for a third successive Gold Cup.
Having, barring a major turnaround, Martinique are going to be relegated and will have to settle for the Gold Cup preliminaries.
Can the hosts cause a major surprise at Stade Pierre-Aliker, or will Panama be far too strong?
Guadeloupe vs Barbados
If Guadeloupe harbour any aspirations of winning this group, this is simply must win.
The Gwada Boys began this campaign with a crucial 2-1 victory over obvious promotion rivals Cuba, Thierry Ambrose striking in stoppage time.
However, since, they’ve suffered a shock 1-0 loss in Antigua & Barbuda, before Thursday’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Barbados.
Ambrose, yet again, the match winner in Gros Islet.
This leaves the top three in Group A all with six points to their name, meaning a thrilling race for promotion is surely in store.
Barbados are the exception as they’re rock bottom of the section having lost 1-0 twice and 3-0 in Cuba in-between.
The Bajan Tridents have now lost four successive competitive games, and could be making in instant return to the Nations League’s bottom-tier.
Anything other than a Guadeloupe victory would be a major surprise at Stade René Serge Nabajoth.
Cuba vs Antigua and Barbuda
Cuba currently occupy top spot in Group A of League B, but will the be able to hold onto this positition?
The Lions of the Caribbean began this campaign with a 2-1 defeat against promotion rivals Guadeloupe, conceding in the 90th minute in Les Abymes.
However, Pablo Elier Sánchez’s side have responded with back-to-back wins, first swatting aside Barbados 3-0 in Santiago de Cuba.
Then, on Thursday, Luis Paradela and star man Onel Hernández were on target in a 2-0 victory over Antigua & Barbuda .
Now, with the teams reconvening three days later, will Cuba’s winning run continue?
The Benna Boys meanwhile had began with back-to-back 1-1 wins, first beating Barbados before a shock victory against Guadeloupe.
This means Mikele Leigertwood’s side are one of three teams in this section on six points, all fighting for promotion to the top-tier.
Every points counts in this group, so will Cuba make home advantage count at Estadio Antonio Maceo?
Saint Kitts and Nevis vs Saint Martin
DENVER, CO – JUNE 06: The Trophy of Championship is displayed during the CONCACAF Nations League Championship Final between United States and Mexico at Empower Field At Mile High on June 6, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Will Saint Kitts & Nevis continue their perfect start to this CONCACAF Nations League season?
On Thursday, they got their campaign up and running by beating Aruba 3-2 in Willemstad.
Carlos Bertie, Omari Sterling-James and then Vinceroy Nelson all on target in a road victory.
The Sugar Boyz have endured a mixed few years, first suffering relegation to the Nations League’s bottom-tier with just one win to their name in 2019.
But then, St Kitts. reached the second round of World Cup qualifying, eliminating Trinidad & Tobago, before being hammered 6-0 by El Salvador over two legs.
Overall, Austin Huggins’ side are far too strong for League C and another win here would see them go clear at the top of the group.
Saint Martin meanwhile have just one point to their name, drawing 0-0 with Aruba before a 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture three days later.
The Saint Swallows actually won three of six League C fixtures three years ago, but are finding victories much harder to come-by this time round.
Will Saint Kitts & Nevis be far too strong at Warner Park Sporting Complex?
Saint Lucia vs Anguilla
Can Saint Lucia pull clear at the top of League C Group C?
In their group opener on Thursday, Jevick Macfarlane got the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Dominica at Windsor Park.
This was Saint Lucia’s first competitive game, and first win, since November 2019 having been forced to withdraw from World Cup qualifying.
Now though, Stern John’s team are up and running, aiming for an immediate return to the Nations League’s second-tier.
Anguilla meanwhile are CONCACAF’s lowest-ranked nation, with only San Marino below them in the FIFA World Rankings.
Thus, the fact Nigel Connor’s side have held Dominica to not just one but two stalemates in this great is an achievement worth celebrating.
First, the two played out a goalless game in The Valley before Jonathan Guishard’s equaliser snatched a famous point in Basseterre.
These ended a run of nine successive competitive defeats, with Anguilla now dreaming of their first competitive victory since February 2001.
Given that, Saint Lucia should be too strong at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
Puerto Rico vs British Virgin Islands
Will Puerto Rico pull clear at the top of this group?
On Thursday, in their group opener, they swatted Cayman Islands aside 3-0 thanks to Isaac Angking’s brace and then Zarek Valentin’s late clincher.
So, despite having only played once, el Huracán Azul already occupy top spot in this group, a position they intend to hold onto.
Dave Sarachan’s side actually won twice during World Cup qualifying, beating both Bahamas and Guyana 12 months ago.
So, having now won five of their last eight competition internationals, Puerto Rico are aiming for promotion to League B to show for their efforts.
British Virgin Islands meanwhile have played twice in Group D, drawing 1-1 both times with Cayman Islands.
The Nature Boyz lost all four CONCACAF Nations League games in 2019, so have already improved on that.
This game though is all about Puerto Rico who should ease to victory at Estadio Centroamericano de Mayagüez.
