Latest update August 19th, 2026 10:39 AM
Lady Jags confident as Guyana gears up for CONCACAF Women’s Qualifier against Nicaragua
Kaieteur Sports – As the countdown continues to Monday’s CONCACAF Women’s Qualifier between Guyana Lady Jaguars and Nicaragua National team, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has expressed confidence in the readiness of the Senior Women’s National Team.
At a press briefing held at the GFF Headquarters yesterday, Technical Director Bryan Joseph and Head Coach Omar Khan outlined the team’s preparations ahead of their opening clash with Nicaragua at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
Guyana’s Women National team Head Coach Omar Khan (second left), along with Technical Director Bryan Joseph, Isha Charles and Lakeisha Pearson share photo-op at yesterday’s briefing ahead of their clash with Nicaragua in the CONCACAF W Qualifiers.
Guyana sits in Group B of the 2025/26 CONCACAF W Qualifiers, alongside Jamaica, Nicaragua, Dominica, and Antigua and Barbuda. Ranked 12th in CONCACAF, the Lady Jags enter Monday’s match as favourites against Nicaragua, who sit six spots below them. After this clash, then follows two away fixtures schedule for March and April.
These qualifiers provide the opportunity for six group winners to advance into the prestigious 2026 CONCACAF W Championship, a major stepping stone toward regional dominance.
During the briefing, Technical Director Bryan Joseph highlighted the Federation’s intensified focus on domestic development as a key factor in the national team’s upward momentum.
“Over the past few months, we’ve made a significant domestic push,” Joseph said. “We just concluded a five-month Under-15 tournament with over 50 participating schools—a massive undertaking. Our Women’s Division One League is also playing weekly with 10 very competitive teams. We’re building structures that support sustained success at the national level.”
Golden Jaguars Women’s Head Coach, Omar Khan.
According to him, those efforts are already producing results. Earlier this year, the Junior Lady Jags broke into the CONCACAF top 10 at the youth level, while the senior team continues to climb both regionally and globally. “Our senior women are ranked 12th in CONCACAF and around 90th in the FIFA rankings,” Joseph added.
Head Coach Omar Khan, who recently returned to Guyana to oversee the camp, praised the team’s growth and collective mindset.
“We’ve achieved good results in the games we’ve played,” he said. “I’m very glad to be here again, working with these talented Lady Jags. Since my arrival, the progress has been evident, these players are committed, disciplined, and hungry.”
But preparation comes with its challenges. “National team camps are always tight on time,” Khan noted.
“Players come from different leagues, geographic locations, and football cultures. We may only get a week or 10 days together, which is never enough. But we trust the process. The goal is not only to win Monday, but also to raise our level of play heading into April,” Khan shared.
Despite player availability issues, especially with athletes studying or working, Khan emphasized that the staff has been proactive. “We arrived early to train with the local group and evaluate the talent pool,” Khan explained. “It also gave local players more opportunities to push into the squad.”
Veteran Isha Charles praised the tone of the camp and the energy within the squad. “The intensity has been amazing,” she said.
According to her, “Our coaching staff has helped us grow tremendously. We’re working in smaller groups on attacking and defending principles, and the environment is so positive. Everyone is learning, enjoying the sunshine, and staying focused, we just need that big win.”
Midfielder Lakeisha Pearson also present at the briefing echoed similar sentiment, highlighting the balance of experience and youth. “I’m grateful to be part of this amazing team again,” Pearson shared.
“The younger players bring great energy, and the more experienced ones offer guidance. Preparation has been excellent.”
With more staff on board, more structure, the team has a chance to improve every phase of play. Coach Khan pointed out that: the goal is to improve after every match.
With momentum building both on and off the field, the Lady Jags are poised to open their qualifier campaign with confidence and purpose. A win on home soil would set the tone for the remainder of their CONCACAF journey, and perhaps bring the team one step closer to rewriting history in Guyana’s Women football.
Starting strong at home is crucial. Kickoff is set for 19:00 hrs on Monday, December 1, at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
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