The only Caribbean nation to have qualified for the Fifa Women’s World Cup is no longer only Jamaica. Reggae Girlz from Jamaica will be the first group from the area to perform at the finals twice in a row. They are ranked No. 43 in the world and are a considerably more dangerous team than the one from 2019. The squad includes numerous players with Jamaican ancestry who were born in the US and England but were not on the team that made a historic appearance in France.
The team played in the qualifications and won all but two games—a 5-0 defeat to the United States in the group stage and a 3-0 loss to Canada in the semi-final—at the Concacaf Women’s Championship in Mexico. On their road to taking third place in that tournament, Jamaica defeated the host nation 1-0, as well as Haiti 4-0 and Costa Rica 1-0.
The Manager
Before relocating to the United States and enrolling at the Metropolitan State University of Denver (he was inducted into MSU Denver’s Hall of Fame in 1995), Lorne Donaldson was born and raised in Jamaica. He began his playing career with Kingston College and Cavalier FC. He later played for Jamaica and the Denver Kickers, where he won the 1983 National Amateur Cup. After working as an assistant coach for the Metro State Roadrunners in 1983, he went on to manage the Colorado Foxes, Colorado Rapids, and Real Colorado Foxes.
Star player
Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, the all-time highest scorer for Jamaica with 56 goals, has had a career filled with ups, downs, and of course, great success. From an early age, the 6-foot striker’s strength and quick thinking had prepared her for a glittering career. At age 14, she played for Jamaica’s under-15, under-17, and under-20 teams. On August 23, 2015, she made her senior team debut, scoring once in a 6-0 victory over the Dominican Republic. Despite losing siblings to crimes and mishaps, she channeled those losses into a burning passion for football.
Rising star
Solai Washington, a midfielder who was born in the United States and is only 18 years old. She is one of the young players from Jamaica to watch out for in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Washington, who is entering her senior year of high school, joined the setup for the first time this year during a camp in Florida and hasn’t looked back. She is extremely talented and works tirelessly both on and off the pitch in a way that defies her age.
Fun Fact
The 23-member Jamaican team will have 13 players competing in their first World Cup. These five athletes—Rebecca Spencer, Vyan Sampson, Atlanta Primus, Drew Spence, and Paige Bailey-Gayle—were all born in England. Furthermore, Cheyna Matthews has returned soon after giving birth to join the World Cup team, just like she did in 2019.
State of Football
The Reggae Girlz played their first international match against Haiti in 1991. Losing 1-0, it marked the beginning of women’s football in Jamaica. They have now established themselves as one of the best teams in the area, and their current Fifa rating of 43 is their second-highest ever. The previous year, they attained their maximum of 42. However, there have been hiccups along the way. In 2010 the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) abolished the women’s program as well as the women’s Olympic plan. They were ranked at their lowest-ever position of 128 at the time. After three years of inactivity, the nation was dropped from Fifa’s global rankings.
Our Prediction
It may appear impossible for Jamaica to advance from Group F and into the Round of 16. Jamaica are anticipated to be more competitive than they were in 2019. The team’s overall objective is to at least draw even with one of France or Brazil. They have a strong chance of defeating Panama in their last group game if they can accomplish it.
For more football news, click here
