“Ready to make history” – Coach Williams

– as National U17 girls begin their qualifiers campaign today

The name Jamaica will not drive fear into Guyana’s National Under-17 Girls’ football team as they open their 2026 Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) U17 Qualifiers campaign against the formidable opponent in Aruba today.
In fact, the 21-member national team and their staff are quite confident in their chances against the regional powerhouse, as stated by Head Coach Delon Williams.

In a recent chat with this publication, Williams indicated that his troops will not take their opponents lightly.
The coach discussed today’s opening fixture, stating, “Well, we all know that Jamaica is a team that consistently performs well in every tournament they enter; they have made a name for themselves. We’re not going to take them lightly, and we’re not going to underestimate them in any way because, you know, Jamaica is Jamaica already.”
“But we have to play our style and our brand of football, which is going to get us over the hurdle. We’re going to be ready for them. I’m not saying we’re going to be underprepared; we are going to be ready for whatever challenge they bring to us,” Williams went on to add.
One factor that will drive and inspire the U17 Lady Jags is the dream campaign that their Under-20 counterparts had in 2025, thus securing a spot in the CONCACAF U20 Championships that year.
“As a coach, that’s what you want; that’s what you live for as a coach. You want every team to be better than the last, and the girls in this team want it so badly. ‘Hey, the U20 did it last time; we can do it; we can even go further.’ That’s the spirit we have in the team right now. It’s high, and the girls are ready to make history for this country.”

Today’s encounter with Jamaica is set to kick off at 15:00h at the Stadion Guillermo Prospero Trinidad in Oranjestad, Aruba. Furthermore, the U17 girls will take on Aruba next on Thursday, January 29, from 20:00h at the same venue.
The National U17 girls’ team includes goalkeepers Jasmine Solomon-Ross, Alexis Mars, and Sara Ernest; defenders Aliyah John, Ella Yhip, Kuleni Springer, Lily Biffin, Avril Pasvolsky, Laila Ross, Laila So, and Caraleena Elliston; Midfielders – Kimora Edwards, Sydney Glean, Arianna Chin, Carissa Lombardi, Ellie Biffin, and Ayah Stewart; Forwards – Alexaudria Chasles, Tanya De Vair, Anaya Joseph, and Eleanna Isaacs.
The format for this year’s U17 Girls Qualifiers will see 29 teams competing in six groups for a chance to move on to Round Two. After round-robin play, the six group winners, along with the two best second-placed teams, will advance to the final round.
There, they will meet CONCACAF’s top-ranked teams, namely Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States (who received byes to this round), for another round of group play.