Guyana national football team

Guyana

Nickname(s)	Golden Jaguars
Association	Guyana Football Federation
Confederation	CONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederation	CFU (Caribbean)
Head coach	Jamaal Shabazz
Captain	Elliot Bonds
Most caps	Walter Moore (77)
Top scorer	Nigel Codrington (18)
Home stadium	Providence Stadium
FIFA code	GUY
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	161 5 (24 October 2024)[1]
Highest	86 (November 2010)
Lowest	185 (February 2004)
First international
British Guiana 1–4 Trinidad and Tobago  (British Guiana; 21 July 1905)[2]
Biggest win
Guyana 14–0 Anguilla  (St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda; 16 April 1998)
Biggest defeat
Surinam 9–0 British Guiana  (Netherlands Antilles; 17 February 1952) Surinam 9–0 British Guiana  (Aruba; 9 February 1953)  Guyana 0–9 Mexico  (Santa Ana, United States; 2 December 1987)
Gold Cup
Appearances	1 (first in 2019)
Best result	Group stage (2019)

The Guyana national football team, nicknamed the Golden Jaguars, represents Guyana in international football and is controlled by the Guyana Football Federation. It is one of three South American nations to be a member of the Caribbean Football Union of CONCACAF alongside Suriname and French Guiana. Until the independence of Guyana (1966), it competed as British Guiana. They qualified for the Caribbean Nations Cup in 1991, coming fourth, and in 2007. Guyana has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, but on 23 March 2019 they qualified for the first time for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Guyana (as British Guiana) played its first international football match on 21 July 1905, a 4–1 defeat against nearby and fellow British colony Trinidad and Tobago. Their next recorded game came almost 16 years later on 28 January 1921, an away 2–1 win against its neighbour Suriname. The two played again in Suriname on 27 August 1923, and on that occasion the hosts won 2–1. British Guiana did not play another match until 1937, when they lost two matches against Trinidad and Tobago in Suriname: 3–0 and 3–2. After seven years without a match, British Guiana entered a three-team tournament in Trinidad & Tobago against its national side and Barbados. They won twice against Barbados (1–0 and 3–0) before drawing 1–1 and losing 3–0 to Trinidad and Tobago. In the final of this Trinagular tournament they again lost 3–0 to Trinidad and Tobago.

In November 1947 British Guiana played in a Standard Life tournament in Trinidad and Tobago. They beat the hosts 2–1 in their opening game on 5 November before beating Jamaica 2–0 the very next day. On 10 November they drew 0–0 with Jamaica before losing 2–0 to Trinidad and Tobago in the last game on 14 November.

British Guiana played its first home games in 1950 against Trinidad and Tobago: these were British Guiana's first matches since the Standard Life tournament. British Guiana lost 1–0 and 4–1 before winning 1–0. The last match played under the name British Guiana was the next match on 2 March 1959 – a 2–2 draw against Trinidad and Tobago.^[4]

After independence in 1966, Guyana did not play a match for five years. Their first fixtures under their new name were qualifiers for the 1971 CONCACAF Championship against Suriname. The first match, away, was lost 4–1 and the home match on 21 September 1971 was lost 3–2 as Suriname advanced 7–3 on aggregate. In 1976 Guyana entered its first ever World Cup qualification campaign with the aim of reaching the 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina. Guyana and Suriname were drawn in a two-legged preliminary in the Caribbean section of CONCACAF qualification and Guyana won the first leg 2–0 at home on 4 July 1976. The second leg in Paramaribo was lost 3–0 which allowed Suriname to advance.^[4]

Guyana had a remarkable calendar year in 2006, with eleven successive wins, including five CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers^[5] These results boosted Guyana's spot in the FIFA World Rankings by 87 spots in little over a year. As a consequence, the team rose to the top 12 in CONCACAF and were in the third rank of seeds in the World Cup qualifying draw.

At the 2006–07 Caribbean Nations Cup, Guyana finished top of Group A in Stage One, then top of Group H in Stage Two (which they hosted), and finished 3rd in the Bobby Sookram Group, missing out on a semi-final berth on goal difference alone. Had Guyana reached the semi-finals, they would have qualified for the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

With the return of international coach Jamaal Shabazz, Guyana finished top of a group containing Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Bermuda to reach the third round of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. They qualified with one game to go with a 2–1 home win against Trinidad and Tobago on 11 November 2011.

Guyana organised friendly matches against Colombia, Bolivia, Jamaica and Panama for the first team. In the third round group, they finished last, behind Mexico, Costa Rica and El Salvador, with one point from their six matches.

From November 2012 to October 2014 Guyana did not play a single international fixture. This amongst other factors led to FIFA stepping in and removing the GFF executive at the end of 2014.^[6]

With FIFA stepping into Guyana once again, a FIFA Normalisation Committee was installed to regularise football in Guyana. With this came the search for a National Team Head Coach with Jamaal Shabazz reinstalled initially for one game versus Barbados in Jan 2015. As Guyana had lost many first team players to retirement since 2012, the squad was a new younger group with major gaps in the goalkeeper and defensive areas.

However a 2–2 draw with Barbados was enough for Shabazz and his staff, consisting of assistant coach Wayne Wiggy Dover, Operations Manager Mark Xavier, Team Manager Faizal Khan, Kit Man Trevor Burnett, GoalKeeper Coach Andrew Hazell, Physical Trainer Anson Ambrose, Medical Officer Denzil Hernandez.

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

As of 21 November 2023^[update]

Head coach	Jamaal Shabazz
Assistant coach	Ibraheem Anil
Strength & Conditioning Coach	Renzo Patel
Team Manager	Tyrese Stanley
Goalkeeping coach	Evon Cobaine
Kitman	Hal Portius
Head scout	Romild Christie
GFF President	Wayne Forde[9]
Technical director	Gennarius Huxley

The following players were called up for the 2024–25 CONCACAF Nations League A matches against Guatemala and Suriname on 11 and 15 October 2024.^[10]

Caps and goals updated as of 15 October 2024, after the match against  Suriname.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Akel Clarke	(1988-10-25) 25 October 1988 (age 36)	21	0	Slingerz
	1GK	Quillan Roberts	(1994-09-13) 13 September 1994 (age 30)	20	0	Western Suburbs
	1GK	Kai McKenzie-Lyle	(1997-11-30) 30 November 1997 (age 26)	13	1	Oxford City
	2DF	Colin Nelson	(1991-08-09) 9 August 1991 (age 33)	39	1	Guyana Defence Force
	2DF	Leo Lovell	(1996-12-06) 6 December 1996 (age 27)	27	2	Slingerz
	2DF	Liam Gordon	(1999-05-15) 15 May 1999 (age 25)	22	2	Walsall
	2DF	Terence Vancooten	(1997-12-29) 29 December 1997 (age 26)	21	1	Burton Albion
	2DF	Jalen Jones	(1998-11-13) 13 November 1998 (age 26)	17	1	Oxford City
	2DF	Curtez Kellman	(1998-03-06) 6 March 1998 (age 26)	17	0	Slingerz
	2DF	Jeremy Garrett	(2000-01-01) 1 January 2000 (age 24)	15	1	Slingerz
	2DF	Reiss Greenidge	(1996-08-10) 10 August 1996 (age 28)	8	0	Maidstone United
	2DF	Raushan Ritch	(2000-04-05) 5 April 2000 (age 24)	5	0	Slingerz
	3MF	Daniel Wilson	(1993-11-01) 1 November 1993 (age 31)	65	1	Western Tigers
	3MF	Stephen Duke-McKenna	(2000-08-17) 17 August 2000 (age 24)	26	2	Harrogate Town
	3MF	Kadell Daniel	(1994-06-03) 3 June 1994 (age 30)	25	3	Croydon Athletic
	3MF	Nathan Moriah-Welsh	(2002-03-18) 18 March 2002 (age 22)	20	3	Hibernian
	3MF	Ryan Hackett	(1999-09-11) 11 September 1999 (age 25)	11	0	Guyana Defence Force
	3MF	Nathan Ferguson	(1995-10-12) 12 October 1995 (age 29)	8	0	Maidenhead United
	4FW	Kelsey Benjamin	(1999-05-08) 8 May 1999 (age 25)	36	8	Guyana Defence Force
	4FW	Omari Glasgow	(2003-11-22) 22 November 2003 (age 20)	28	17	Chicago Fire FC II
	4FW	Deon Moore	(1999-05-14) 14 May 1999 (age 25)	15	5	Woking F.C.
	4FW	Osaze De Rosario	(2001-07-19) 19 July 2001 (age 23)	5	1	Tacoma Defiance
	4FW	Isaiah Jones	(1999-06-26) 26 June 1999 (age 25)	4	2	Middlesbrough
	4FW	Benjamin Opara	(1994-04-19) 19 April 1994 (age 30)	0	0	Guyana Defence Force

The following players have been called up within the past year.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Jamain Cumberbatch	(1999-04-21) 21 April 1999 (age 25)	2	0	Guyana Defence Force	v.  Cambodia; 26 March 2024
DF	Samuel Cox	(1990-10-10) 10 October 1990 (age 34)	35	0	Oxford City	v.  Martinique; 9 September 2024RET
DF	Quincy Adams	(1989-01-07) 7 January 1989 (age 35)	26	1	Slingerz	v.  Belize; 11 June 2024
DF	Miquel Scarlett	(2000-09-27) 27 September 2000 (age 24)	6	0	Chatham Town	v.  Panama; 7 June 2024
DF	Terique Mohammed	(2000-01-27) 27 January 2000 (age 24)	1	0	Des Moines Menace	v.  Trinidad and Tobago; 15 May 2024
DF	Kevin Layne	(1998-01-01) 1 January 1998 (age 26)	10	0	Police	v.  Cambodia; 26 March 2024
DF	Marcus Simmons	(2000-07-16) 16 July 2000 (age 24)	1	0	Sigma FC	v.  Cambodia; 26 March 2024
DF	Amos Ramsey	(1991-12-20) 20 December 1991 (age 32)	4	0	Guyana Defence Force	v.  Cambodia; 26 March 2024
MF	Elliot Bonds	(2000-03-23) 23 March 2000 (age 24)	21	0	Fleetwood Town	v.  Martinique; 9 September 2024
MF	Darron Niles	(2003-05-03) 3 May 2003 (age 21)	4	0	Slingerz	v.  Belize; 9 June 2024
FW	Ryan Khedoo	(1999-10-27) 27 October 1999 (age 25)	1	1	St. Charles FC	v.  Cambodia; 26 March 2024
INJ Withdrew due to injury. PRE Preliminary squad. RET Retired from the national team. WD Withdrew for personal reasons.

As of 15 October 2024^[11]

Players in bold are still active with Guyana.

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Walter Moore	77	5	2004–2019
2	Daniel Wilson	65	1	2011–present
3	Charles Pollard	60	3	1996–2012
4	Anthony Abrams	58	15	2004–2017
5	Trayon Bobb	51	12	2011–present
6	Howard Lowe	46	1	2002–2010
	Gregory Richardson	46	17	2002–2019
8	Dwain Jacobs	42	1	2008–2017
9	Kayode McKinnon	41	4	2002–2012
10	Colin Nelson	39	1	2009–present

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Nigel Codrington	18	26	0.69	2001–2010
2	Omari Glasgow	17	28	0.61	2021–present
	Gregory Richardson	17	46	0.37	2002–2019
4	Anthony Abrams	15	58	0.26	2004–2017
5	Trayon Bobb	12	51	0.24	2011–present
6	Neil Danns	11	25	0.44	2015–2023
	Emery Welshman	11	28	0.39	2015–present
8	Randolph Jerome	9	21	0.43	1998–2008
	Sheldon Holder	9	34	0.26	2011–2021
10	Vurlon Mills	8	32	0.25	2011–2019
	Kelsey Benjamin	8	36	0.22	2017–present

FIFA World Cup										FIFA World Cup qualification
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1970	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1974	Did not enter									Declined participation
1978	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	2	3
1982										6	2	0	4	8	13
1986										2	0	1	1	1	2
1990										2	0	0	2	0	5
1994										2	0	1	1	2	3
1998										2	0	0	2	1	8
2002	Suspended by FIFA									Suspended by FIFA
2006	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	1	8
2010										2	0	0	2	1	3
2014										12	4	2	6	14	30
2018										2	0	2	0	6	6
2022										4	1	0	3	4	8
2026	To be determined									2	1	0	1	3	3
2030										To be determined
2034
Total		0/13								40	9	6	25	43	92

CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1963	Did not enter										Did not enter
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1977	Did not qualify										2	1	0	1	2	3
1981											6	2	0	4	8	13
1985											2	0	1	1	1	2
1989											2	0	0	2	0	5
1991											6	2	1	3	9	15
1993											3	1	0	2	3	7
1996											2	0	0	2	0	7
1998	Did not enter										Did not enter
2000	Did not qualify										5	1	2	2	19	12
2002											3	2	0	1	4	3
2003											2	1	0	1	2	2
2005	Withdrew										Withdrew
2007	Did not qualify										9	7	1	1	28	7
2009											5	1	3	1	7	5
2011											3	0	1	2	1	6
2013											8	4	0	4	15	11
2015											3	0	1	2	0	4
2017											6	3	0	3	21	12
2019	Group stage	13th	3	0	1	2	3	9	Squad		4	3	0	1	14	3
2021	Did not qualify										7	3	1	3	12	14
2023											8	3	2	3	9	17
Total	Group stage	1/27	3	0	1	2	3	9	—		86	34	13	39	155	148

CONCACAF Nations League record
League											Finals
Season	Division	Group	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	P/R		Finals	Result	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad
2019–20	B	C	6	3	1	2	12	10			2021	Ineligible
2022–23	B	B	6	3	1	2	8	14			2023
2023–24	B	D	5	5	0	0	20	5			2024
2024–25	A	A	To be determined								2025	To be determined
Total	—	—	17	11	2	4	40	29	—		Total	0 Titles	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

CFU Championship & Caribbean Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1978	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	1	4
1979	Did not enter									Did not enter
1981
1983	Did not qualify									4	1	2	1	3	5
1985										2	1	1	0	1	1
1988										2	0	0	2	0	5
1989	Did not enter									Did not enter
1990	Did not qualify									3	0	2	1	1	6
1991	Fourth place	4th	4	1	0	3	4	14		2	1	1	0	5	1
1992	Did not qualify									3	1	1	1	4	5
1993										3	1	0	2	3	7
1994										2	0	0	2	1	4
1995										2	0	0	2	0	7
1996										2	1	0	1	3	3
1997										4	1	1	2	5	9
1998										3	1	1	1	17	4
1999										2	0	1	1	2	4
2001										3	2	0	1	4	3
2005	Withdrew									Withdrew
2007	Group stage	5th	3	1	1	1	4	5		6	6	0	0	24	2
2008	Did not qualify									5	1	3	1	7	5
2010	Group stage	8th	3	0	1	2	1	6		6	4	1	1	9	4
2012	Did not qualify									6	3	0	3	11	9
2014										3	0	1	2	0	4
2017										6	3	0	3	21	12
Total	Fourth place	3/25	10	2	2	6	9	25		71	27	15	29	122	104

• Guyana national under-20 football team
• Guyana national under-17 football team
• Football in Guyana

• Official website
• Guyana – FIFA profile