2 months ago
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“DEM NAH play nuh ball,” a frustrated fan shouted as Jamaica played out a scoreless draw against Curaçao at the National Stadium yesterday in the final game of Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers.
The Reggae Boyz, needing a win, missed out on automatic qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they finished second in Group B with 11 points.
Curaçao clinched the group’s top spot with 12 points, becoming the smallest nation to make their way to a FIFA World Cup.
In the aftermath, Jamaica will now have to begin the search for a head coach after Jamaica Football Federation President Michael Ricketts confirmed that the coach had tendered his resignation with immediate effect.
It was a frustrating night for the Boyz as they struck the post twice and the crossbar on one occasion in search of the all-important goal.
The visitors were the ones who started the better of the two teams and registered the first shot on target as Juninho Bacuna fired straight into the waiting gloves of Andre Blake.
Jamaica found their footing and should have been one goal up in the 16th minute.
A low-driven effort from Shamar Nicholson was deflected by the Curaçao defence but fell fortuitously into the path of Bobby Reid, who failed to find the target from close range.
Jamaica were gifted another opportunity just a minute later as Demarai Gray would slip the ball into the path of Nicholson, who could not apply the final touch.
The first half descended into a listless affair as Curaçao seemed content to see out a draw while Jamaica struggled to create opportunities at goal.
The second half brought some life into the game as Jamaica struck the post for the first time on the night when Greg Leigh’s header was just off target after a long throw into the box.
Nicholson was the next player to come close, hitting the crossbar after rising high at the back post much to the frustration of 35,000 Jamaican fans.
Second-half substitute Bailey Cadamarteri struck the post as well from a header in the 87th minute.
Two minutes later, the team would be reduced to 10 men when Jonathan Russell was given marching papers after picking up two yellow cards in the span of six minutes.
Jamaica felt they found a lifeline in time added when Dujuan ‘Whisper’ Richards was brought down in the box, but checks from VAR overturned the referee’s initial call for a penalty.
With time dwindling, Jamaica could not find a winner as Curaçao held out for the draw needed to advance.
After the game, McClaren came in for some amount of stick from Reggae Boyz fans, who called for his immediate sacking.
One fan, Romar Williams, said McClaren was not the right choice to lead Jamaica to the World Cup, citing his poor managerial career with England as proof.
McClaren was the England boss from 2006 to 2007, where he recorded nine wins, five defeats, and four draws.
“The worst coach in history,” Williams ranted. “The man couldn’t even bring England to World Cup and them bring him here to carry us.”
The Reggae Boyz will have a second shot at qualifying for the World Cup as they advance to the intercontinental playoffs as one of the top-two second placed teams.
Jamaica will be joined by Suriname in the playoffs, alongside Bolivia, DR Congo, New Caledonia, and Iraq.
The intercontinental playoffs will be played in March 2026.
English (US) ·