Arichel Hernandez should lead the Cuban team in the decisive matches against Barbados and Guadeloupe. Author: EFE
Less than two weeks separate the Cuban national football team from completing the 2022-2023 Concacafé Nations League, a tournament in which they retain the opportunity to achieve several important successes in the near future.
The Caribbean Lions have nine points and are leading Group A of League B, where they will next face Barbados (0) on March 23 at the Astro Turf Wildey Stadium in Bridgetown.
Three days later, at the Antonio Maceo stadium in Santiago, our team will close the current campaign with a regional match against Guadalupe (9), a direct rival.
Pablo Elier Sánchez’s men depend on themselves to win their group and move up to Ligue A, which will also give them a direct ticket to the Golden Cup to be held this year.
To meet these important challenges during the next FIFA tournament, coach Pinar del Río invited 23 athletes to defend the four-letter jersey against both Caribbean rivals.
The list, which, according to the Cuban Football Association, will not include winger Onel Hernandez due to a last-minute injury to the English player Norwich City, does include goalkeepers Sandy Sanchez (California Pantoja / R. Dominican Republic), Nelson Johnston ( Jicaral/Costa Rica) and Raico Arozarena (Tampa Bay/USA).
Several regulars will be in charge of defense such as Jorge Luis Corrales (Tulsa/USA), Yosel Piedra (San Carlos/Costa Rica), Carlos Vasquez (Dornbirn/Austria), Dariel Morejón (Cariari/Costa Rica), Junior Yuri Peres. (Santa Lucia / Guatemala), in addition to other figures such as Mario Peñalver (Deportivo Mixco / Guatemala), Yassael Herrera (Cienfuegos) and Greibel Palma (Ciego de Avila).
In midfield, the main figures are captain Arichel Hernandez (Deportivo Mixco / Guatemala), one of the goalscorers in this category, as well as star Carel Espino (Comunicaciones / Guatemala). Rolando Abreu (Santiago de Cuba), Denilson Milanes (Carmelitas/Costa Rica), Dayron Reyes (Inter Miami II/USA), Roberny Caballero (Villa Clara) and Neisser Sando (Cienfuegos).
To score goals, Sanchez sent for Luis Paradela (Saprissa/Costa Rica) from Matanzas, who along with Willian Pozo (KTP Kotka/Finland), Daniel Diaz (San Carlos/Costa Rica), Maykel Reyes (Hapala/Nicaragua) and Yasniel Matos (municipality/Guatemala) should carry the offensive weight of the composition.
In the event that it finishes second in its section in League B, the Greater Antilles representative will have the option to search for a ticket for the upcoming Gold Cup via an alternative route that also includes the winners and third classified per key in the leagues. C and A, respectively.
Source: Juventud Rebelde