Jamaica has missed the offensive abilities of Michail Antonio and Leon Bailey through stages of World Cup Qualifying this fall, but will have the creative pair to call on this month.
The Reggae Boyz announced their roster for a pair of November qualifiers, which features English Premier League talents Antonio and Bailey, among several others. Jamaica will face El Salvador on November 12 in its first qualifier of the month before hosting the U.S. men’s national team in Kingston on Nov. 16.
Only 5,000 vaccinated fans will be allowed to attend the Jamaica-USMNT showdown, a decision recently made by the Jamaican football federation.
The roster will also feature five MLS players, including No. 1 goalkeeper Andre Blake, defenders Kemar Lawrence, Alvas Powell and Oniel Fisher, and forward Cory Burke. European-based players Kemar Roofe, Bobby Reid, and Liam Moore are also among the 24 players called in by Theodore Whitmore.
The Reggae Boyz sit in sixth place in the octagonal round standings on five points.
Below is the full Jamaica roster for November 16’s qualifier against the USMNT.
GOALKEEPERS: Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union), Dillon Barnes (Queens Park Rangers), Jeadine White (Cavalier SC).
DEFENDERS: Liam Moore (Reading FC), Adrian Mariappa (Unattached), Damion Lowe (Al-Ittihad), Kemar Lawrence (Toronto FC), Oniel Fisher (LA Galaxy), Gregory Leigh (Morecambe), Alvas Powell (Philadelphia Union).
MIDFIELDERS: Anthony Grant (Swindon Town FC), Ravel Morrison (Derby County), Devon Williams (Miami FC), JeVaughn Watson (Humble Lion FC), Lamar Walker (Miami FC), Bobby Reid (Fulham FC).
FORWARDS: Cory Burke (Philadelphia Union), Junior Flemmings (Birmingham Legion FC), Javon East (Santos de Gualipes), Shamar Nicholson (RSC Charleroi), Andre Gray (Queens Park Rangers), Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Kemar Roofe (Rangers FC), Leon Bailey (Aston Villa).
On paper, I’d argue that Jamaica has a better team than CR, ES, or HON. I didn’t see the Panama debacle so I can’t evaluate their squad. Results haven’t gone for the Reggae Boyz, BUT they were like 3-4 minutes away from stealing a point in Azteca, something we’ve only done twice in WCQs (’97 and 2017). I wouldn’t count them out with Mikhail Antonio, who’s been hot as of late in the EPL.
All of a sudden this Jamaica team looks a whole lot more dangerous.