MIAMI, Florida – The Concacaf Nations League was implemented in order to give more nations the opportunity to have more competitive games, and Barbados have taken advantage of that to the fullest.
While their CNL Qualifying campaign saw them slot into League C, the Bajan Tridents have shown constant improvement since then and are now just two wins away from a first ever berth in the Concacaf Gold Cup group stage.
Next up for Barbados is their Gold Cup Prelims first round match against Bermuda, and as a team on the rise, Barbados will be feeling plenty confident for their July 2 clash.
In League C of the 2019-20 CNL, Barbados fended off a strong challenge from Cayman Islands to finish atop Group A with a 4W-0D-2L record to clinch a spot in the Gold Cup Prelims and also earn promotion to League B.
That momentum stayed intact during the First Round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022, with Barbados finishing third in their group with a solid 1W-2D-1L record.
The Baja Tridents went toe-to-toe with 2018 FIFA World Cup side Panama until a late winner for the Canaleros, and then were mere seconds from a full three points at the Dominican Republic.
All of that shows that Barbados are trending in the right direction going into the Prelims, and two players who have the good to make things happen are captain and MF Rashad Jules and MF Hadan Holligan.
FWs Nick Blackman and Hallam Hope could also be key pieces. The 31-year-old Blackman is fresh off of winning the Israel State Cup with club side Maccabi Tel-Aviv, while Hope scored five goals in 32 league games with English League One outfit Swindon Town.
After strong performances in the CNL and CWCQ, the stars could be aligning in Barbados’ favor for the Gold Cup.
