A first ever meeting between Bahamas and Guadeloupe will be on the docket when the two teams face off in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Prelims on Saturday at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Bahamas are attempting to qualify for the Gold Cup group stage for the first time in their history after finishing first in their group in League C during the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League.
The Baha Boyz arrive into the encounter with Guadeloupe full of confidence after closing out the First Round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 with a solid 0-0 draw against Caribbean giants Trinidad and Tobago.
The hero was GK Ian Lowe, and the 18-year-old shot-stopper will once again be called upon to have a top performance against Les Gwada Boys.
In attack, Bahamas will be leaning on the goal-scoring exploits of veteran FW Lesly St. Jean, who led the team in scoring during the CNL with three goals.
Meanwhile, Guadeloupe are on the hunt for a fourth Gold Cup group stage appearance and their first since 2011.
The 2007 Gold Cup semifinalists are bolstered by a squad with nine players who play in Europe, including GK Johan Thurman and DF Michael Alphonse of French club Amiens, MF Dimitri Cavre of Swiss giants FC Sion, FW Matthias Phaeton of France’s Guingamp and DF Anthony Baron of Swiss club FC Nyonnais.
Then there is FW Raphael Mirval, who led all players in League C in scoring during the 2019-20 Concacaf Nations League with seven goals, as Guadeloupe topped their group to reach the Prelims stage.
