Antigua and Barbuda national football team

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Antigua and Barbuda
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)The Benna Boys
AssociationAntigua and Barbuda Football Association
ConfederationCONCACAF (North America)
Sub-confederationCaribbean Football Union (Caribbean)
Head coachMikele Leigertwood
CaptainQuinton Griffith
Most capsPeter Byers (91)
Top scorerPeter Byers (44)
Home stadiumAntigua Recreation Ground
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
FIFA codeATG
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 142 Steady (15 February 2024)[1]
Highest70 (October 2014)
Lowest170 (December 2003 – January 2004)
First international
 Trinidad and Tobago 11–1 Antigua and Barbuda 
(Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago; 10 November 1972)
Biggest win
 Antigua and Barbuda 10–0 U.S. Virgin Islands 
(North Sound, Antigua & Barbuda; 11 October 2011)
Biggest defeat
 Trinidad and Tobago 11–1 Antigua and Barbuda 
(Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago; 10 November 1972)

The Antigua and Barbuda national football team is the national team of Antigua and Barbuda and is controlled by the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association, a member of the CONCACAF and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU). The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup or the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

History[edit]

First international match[edit]

On November 10, 1972, Antigua and Barbuda's first match was a 1974 FIFA World Cup qualifying match versus Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain. The match was a 11-1 thrashing which to this day is this national team's worst defeat.

Friendlies against European teams[edit]

On 17 December 2005, the Antigua and Barbuda national team played their first match against a European opponent after the Hungarian Football Federation invited "the Benna Boys" to play Hungary in an international friendly at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This was the first match coached by former national striker Derrick Edwards. Hungary defeated Antigua and Barbuda 3–0.[3]

On 2 May 2016, the Estonian Football Association announced that their national team would play Antigua and Barbuda in an international friendly on 22 November. It was the team's second match against a European opponent. Estonia won the game 1–0.[4]

2018 drug bust in Jamaica[edit]

During the March 2018 FIFA Calendar Antigua and Barbuda played Jamaica, drawing 1–1 away at Sabina Park, levelling in the last seconds of match from a header from Peter Byers. Upon the team's preparation for their departure back to Antigua, assistant coach Derrick Edwards and equipment manager Danny Benjamin were arrested and charged with possession of, dealing in, and taking steps to export marijuana, and conspiracy at the Norman Manley International Airport. Initially, Edwards was awarded bail and Benjamin was held without bail; after a month, both Edwards and Benjamin were placed under house arrest and curfew and gave up their travel documents.[5] Both men were acquitted of the crime on 14 June, citing there was not enough evidence to prove their involvement in the carrying the drugs with the intention of smuggling them out of Jamaica.[citation needed]

Team image[edit]

Nicknames[edit]

The official nickname of the Antigua and Barbuda national football team is "the Benna Boys", referring to a genre of Antiguan and Barbudan music similar to calypso. The name was selected in a contest with the fanbase in 2012 after the team advanced to the third round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. "The Benna Boys" beat out other entries in the contest such as "Beach Boys", "Iron Bandits", "Rhythm Warriors" and "Party Crashers".[6] In the past, the national team was unofficially known as "the Wadadli Boys", another name that was in the contest but did not win.[7]

Kit suppliers[edit]

The kit of the national team has been manufactured by Spanish-based Joma since March 2021, ahead of the first round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.[citation needed]

Kit manufacturer Time period
Admiral 1995–1999
Virma [it] 2000–2003
Adidas 2006–2011
Peak 2012–2016
Admiral 2016–2020
Joma 2021–present

Results and fixtures[edit]

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023[edit]

23 March 2022–23 Nations League Guadeloupe  0–1  Antigua and Barbuda Les Abymes, Guadeloupe
19:00 UTC−4 Report
Stadium: Stade René Serge Nabajoth
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauzière (Canada)
26 March 2022–23 Nations League Antigua and Barbuda  1–2  Barbados North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda
16:00 UTC−4
Report
Stadium: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
Referee: Ismael Cornejo (El Salvador)
9 September 2023–24 Nations League Antigua and Barbuda  1–5  Guyana Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda
15:30 UTC−4
  • Deterville 45'
Report
Stadium: ABFA Technical Center
Referee: Mario Escobar (Guatemala)
12 September 2023–24 Nations League Puerto Rico  5–0  Antigua and Barbuda Nassau, Bahamas
19:00 UTC−4
Report Stadium: Thomas Robinson Stadium
Referee: Melvin Matamoros (Honduras)
14 October 2023–24 Nations League Bahamas  1–4  Antigua and Barbuda Nassau, Bahamas
18:00 UTC−4
Report
Stadium: Thomas Robinson Stadium
Referee: Sergio Reyna (Guatemala)
17 October 2023–24 Nations League Antigua and Barbuda  2–2  Bahamas Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda
15:30 UTC−4
Report
Stadium: ABFA Technical Center
Referee: Reon Radix (Grenada)
18 November 2023–24 Nations League Antigua and Barbuda  2–3  Puerto Rico Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda
15:00 UTC−4 Report
Stadium: ABFA Technical Center
Referee: Benjamin Whitty (Cayman Islands)
21 November 2023–24 Nations League Guyana  6–0  Antigua and Barbuda Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
20:00 UTC−4 Report Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez
Referee: Sergio Rozenhout (Suriname)

2024[edit]

2025[edit]

Coaching staff[edit]

Current coaching staff[edit]

Name Position
Antigua and Barbuda Mikele Leigertwood Head coach
Antigua and Barbuda Neil Schyan Jeffers Assistant coach
Antigua and Barbuda Lenny Hewlett Assistant coach
Antigua and Barbuda Janiel Simon Goalkeeper coach
Antigua and Barbuda Evans Jones Trainer
Antigua and Barbuda Horatio Morrison Physiotherapist
Antigua and Barbuda Malcolm Challenger Equipment manager

Manager history[edit]

Polish manager Piotr Nowak was at the helm of Antigua and Barbuda when they achieved their highest FIFA ranking (70) in October 2014.

The following is a list of head coaches of the Antigua and Barbuda national team throughout the years.[citation needed]

Name Period Matches Wins Draws Losses Notes
West Germany Rudi Gutendorf 1976
Serbia and Montenegro Zoran Vraneš 1998–2000 Fourth place at the 1998 Caribbean Cup
Brazil Walter Gama 2001–2002
Antigua and Barbuda Rolston Williams 2004
Antigua and Barbuda Derrick Edwards 2005–2008
Scotland Willie Donachie 2008 16 8 3 5
Antigua and Barbuda Rowan Benjamin 2008–2011 11 4 3 4
England Tom Curtis 2011–2012 21 8 3 10 Semifinal round of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers
Antigua and Barbuda Rolston Williams 2012–2014 6 4 0 2
Poland Piotr Nowak 2014–2015 12 5 2 5 Highest FIFA Ranking (70) under his tenure
Antigua and Barbuda Rolston Williams 2015–2018 8 3 0 5
Antigua and Barbuda Derrick Edwards 2018–2019 6 2 1 3
Democratic Republic of the Congo Michél Dinzey 2019–2020 10 4 0 6
Antigua and Barbuda Mikele Leigertwood 2021– 9 5 1 3

Players[edit]

Current squad[edit]

The following players were called up for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification match against Guadeloupe on 16 June 2023.[8]

Caps and goals are correct as of 16 June 2023, after the match against Guadeloupe.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Nick Townsend (1994-11-01) 1 November 1994 (age 29) 7 0 Wales Newport County
1GK Taj Moore (2005-06-16) 16 June 2005 (age 18) 0 0

2DF Karanja Mack (1987-08-24) 24 August 1987 (age 36) 58 0 Antigua and Barbuda Parham
2DF Daniel Bowry (1998-04-29) 29 April 1998 (age 25) 17 1 England Worthing
2DF Aaron Taylor-Sinclair (1991-04-08) 8 April 1991 (age 32) 9 0 Scotland Airdrieonians
2DF Jahzime Barthley (2005-04-13) 13 April 2005 (age 18) 0 0 Antigua and Barbuda All Saints United

3MF Quinton Griffith (Captain) (1992-02-27) 27 February 1992 (age 32) 73 9 Antigua and Barbuda Five Islands
3MF Shevorn Phillip (1996-09-09) 9 September 1996 (age 27) 16 1 Antigua and Barbuda Liberta
3MF TJ Bramble (2001-05-09) 9 May 2001 (age 22) 10 0 England Welling United
3MF Ashley Nathaniel-George (1995-06-14) 14 June 1995 (age 28) 7 1 England Maidenhead United
3MF Henry Antyon (2002-04-23) 23 April 2002 (age 21) 1 0 Antigua and Barbuda Hoppers
3MF Karique Knight (2005-04-03) 3 April 2005 (age 18) 1 0 Antigua and Barbuda Urlings Golden Stars
3MF Jahzinho O'Garro (2002-12-12) 12 December 2002 (age 21) 1 0 Antigua and Barbuda Parham
3MF Kemio Williams (1998-10-26) 26 October 1998 (age 25) 1 0 Antigua and Barbuda Old Road
3MF Shakore Simon (2000-02-10) 10 February 2000 (age 24) 0 0

4FW Josh Parker (1990-12-01) 1 December 1990 (age 33) 37 5 England Oxford City
4FW Shalon Knight (2000-03-04) 4 March 2000 (age 24) 3 0 Antigua and Barbuda Swetes
4FW Whitney Gonsalves (1999-01-07) 7 January 1999 (age 25) 1 0
4FW Zayn Hakeem (1999-02-15) 15 February 1999 (age 25) 1 0 England Shepshed Dynamo
4FW Eroy Gonsalves (2006-09-18) 18 September 2006 (age 17) 0 0

Recent call-ups[edit]

The following players have also been called up to the Antigua and Barbuda squad within the last twelve months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Shahoi Dorsett (2004-06-23) 23 June 2004 (age 19) 0 0 Antigua and Barbuda Villa Lions v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
GK Zaieem Scott (2004-07-09) 9 July 2004 (age 19) 0 0 Antigua and Barbuda Green City v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023

DF Zaine Francis-Angol (1993-06-30) 30 June 1993 (age 30) 26 0 England Buxton v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF Mahlon Romeo (1995-09-18) 18 September 1995 (age 28) 14 0 Wales Cardiff City v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF Leroy Graham (1999-12-07) 7 December 1999 (age 24) 13 0 Antigua and Barbuda Five Islands v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF Kendukar Challenger (1997-01-24) 24 January 1997 (age 27) 10 0 Antigua and Barbuda All Saints United v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF Vashami Allen (1997-04-09) 9 April 1997 (age 26) 8 0 Antigua and Barbuda Jennings v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023

MF Myles Weston (1988-03-12) 12 March 1988 (age 36) 14 9 England Bromley v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
MF Kwame Kirby (2001-11-28) 28 November 2001 (age 22) 0 0 Antigua and Barbuda Villa Lions v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
MF Zafique Drew (2003-08-30) 30 August 2003 (age 20) 0 0 Antigua and Barbuda Villa Lions v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023

FW Javorn Stevens (1998-05-09) 9 May 1998 (age 25) 23 1 Antigua and Barbuda Greenbay Hoppers v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
FW D'Andre Bishop (2002-10-02) 2 October 2002 (age 21) 17 3 Croatia Belišće v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
FW Raheem Deterville (1999-12-01) 1 December 1999 (age 24) 6 0 Antigua and Barbuda Old Road v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
FW D'Jarie Sheppard (2003-06-28) 28 June 2003 (age 20) 4 0 Antigua and Barbuda Willikies v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023

Player records[edit]

As of 21 November 2023[9]
Players in bold are still active with Antigua and Barbuda.
Peter Byers is Antigua and Barbuda's top goalscorer and most-capped player.

Most appearances[edit]

Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Peter Byers 91 44 2004–2021
2 Quinton Griffith 79 10 2009–present
3 George Dublin 67 4 2000–2012
4 Tamorley Thomas 64 12 2002–2021
5 Karanja Mack 58 0 2006–present
6 Ranjae Christian 54 5 1998–2012
7 Randolph Burton 52 15 2008–2016
Akeem Thomas 52 2 2008–2018
9 Gayson Gregory 49 8 2000–2014
Molvin James 49 0 2007–2021

Top goalscorers[edit]

Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Peter Byers 44 91 0.48 2004–2021
2 Derrick Edwards 18 20 0.9 1988–2000
3 Randolph Burton 15 52 0.29 2008–2016
4 Tamorley Thomas 12 64 0.19 2002–2021
5 Jamie Thomas 10 31 0.32 2006–2011
6 Quinton Griffith 10 79 0.13 2009–present
7 Myles Weston 9 16 0.56 2014–present
8 Garfield Gonsalves 8 29 0.28 1992–2008
Kerry Skepple 8 34 0.24 2002–2012
Gayson Gregory 8 49 0.16 2000–2014

Competitive record[edit]

FIFA World Cup[edit]

FIFA World Cup Qualification
Year Result Position Pld W D* L F A Squad Pld W D L F A
1930 to 1970 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
West Germany 1974 Did not qualify 4 0 0 4 3 22
Argentina 1978 Did not enter Did not enter
Spain 1982
Mexico 1986 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 2 5
Italy 1990 2 0 0 2 1 4
United States 1994 4 1 1 2 5 6
France 1998 2 0 1 1 4 6
South Korea Japan 2002 6 1 2 3 4 15
Germany 2006 2 1 0 1 2 3
South Africa 2010 4 2 0 2 7 8
Brazil 2014 12 5 1 6 32 18
Russia 2018 4 2 0 2 6 6
Qatar 2022 4 2 1 1 6 5
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0/13 46 15 6 25 72 98

CONCACAF Gold Cup[edit]

CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
El Salvador 1963 Part of  United Kingdom Part of  United Kingdom
Guatemala 1965
Honduras 1967
Costa Rica 1969
Trinidad and Tobago 1971
Haiti 1973 Did not qualify 4 0 0 4 3 22
Mexico 1977 Did not enter Did not enter
Honduras 1981
1985 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 2 5
1989 2 1 1 0 1 4
United States 1991 Did not enter Did not enter
Mexico United States 1993 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 1 1
United States 1996 3 1 2 2 6 11
United States 1998 2 0 0 2 1 5
United States 2000 11 4 2 5 24 17
United States 2002 3 0 1 2 4 5
Mexico United States 2003 5 0 1 4 1 8
United States 2005 3 1 0 2 6 8
United States 2007 6 2 0 4 8 17
United States 2009 9 4 3 2 19 16
United States 2011 6 2 2 2 4 5
United States 2013 3 1 0 2 3 3
Canada United States 2015 9 4 2 3 14 11
United States 2017 6 3 0 3 10 8
Costa Rica Jamaica United States 2019 4 2 0 2 10 8
United States 2021 6 3 0 3 8 17
Canada United States 2023 7 3 0 4 5 12
Total 0/22 93 33 14 46 130 183

CONCACAF Nations League[edit]

CONCACAF Nations League record
Season Division Group Pld W D* L GF GA P/R Rank
2019−20 B C 6 3 0 3 8 17 Same position 21st
2022–23 B A 6 3 0 3 5 7 Same position 21st
2023–24 B D 6 1 1 4 9 22 Same position 20th
Total 18 7 1 10 22 46 20th

CFU Caribbean Cup[edit]

CFU Championship & Caribbean Cup record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D* L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
Trinidad and Tobago 1978 Fourth place 4th 5 1 1 3 4 8 Squad 2 1 1 0 3 0
Suriname 1979 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 0 2
Puerto Rico 1981 Did not enter Did not enter
French Guiana 1983 Fourth place 4th 7 2 2 3 11 10 Squad 4 2 2 0 10 5
Barbados 1985 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 2 2
Martinique 1988 Runners-up 2nd 5 1 4 0 5 4 Squad 2 1 1 0 2 1
Barbados 1989 Did not qualify 4 3 0 1 4 2
Trinidad and Tobago 1990 3 0 1 2 2 5
Jamaica 1991 Did not enter Did not enter
Trinidad and Tobago 1992 Group stage 7th 3 0 1 2 2 12 Squad 3 3 0 0 8 0
Jamaica 1993 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 1 1
Trinidad and Tobago 1994 2 1 0 1 10 3
Cayman Islands Jamaica 1995 Group stage 7th 3 1 0 2 3 8 Squad 2 0 2 0 3 3
Trinidad and Tobago 1996 Withdrew Withdrew
Antigua and Barbuda Saint Kitts and Nevis 1997 Group stage 6th 2 0 0 2 1 5 Squad Qualified as hosts
Jamaica Trinidad and Tobago 1998 Fourth place 4th 5 2 0 3 11 9 Squad 3 2 1 0 11 3
Trinidad and Tobago 1999 Did not qualify 3 0 1 2 2 5
Trinidad and Tobago 2001 3 0 1 2 4 5
Barbados 2005 3 1 0 2 6 8
Trinidad and Tobago 2007 6 2 0 4 8 17
Jamaica 2008 Group stage 7th 3 0 2 1 3 6 Squad 6 4 1 1 16 10
Martinique 2010 Group stage 5th 3 1 0 2 2 4 Squad 3 1 2 0 2 1
Antigua and Barbuda 2012 Group stage 8th 3 1 0 2 3 3 Squad Qualified as hosts
Jamaica 2014 Group stage 7th 3 0 1 2 2 7 Squad 6 4 1 1 12 4
Martinique 2017 Did not qualify 6 3 0 3 10 8
Total Runners-up 11/25 42 9 11 22 47 76 67 30 14 23 116 85
***Red border color indicates that Antigua and Barbuda was the host nation.

Head-to-head record[edit]

The following table shows Antigua and Barbuda's all-time official international record per opponent:[10]

Key

  Winning record   Equal record   Losing record

Opponent Pld W D L GF GA
 Anguilla 5 5 0 0 28 3
 Aruba 5 5 0 0 11 4
 Bahamas 1 1 0 0 6 0
 Barbados 7 1 1 5 8 14
 Bermuda 11 3 4 4 12 14
 British Virgin Islands 8 4 2 2 14 10
 Cayman Islands 2 0 1 1 1 3
 Cuba 7 0 1 6 4 18
 Curaçao 4 3 0 1 10 6
 Dominica 15 8 4 3 27 18
 Dominican Republic 6 1 2 3 8 11
 El Salvador 1 0 0 1 0 3
 Estonia 1 0 0 1 0 1
 French Guiana 1 1 0 0 2 1
 Grenada 6 3 3 0 13 7
 Guadeloupe 6 2 1 3 4 7
 Guatemala 8 1 0 7 3 31
 Guyana 12 5 3 4 15 22
 Haiti 12 2 3 7 11 19
 Honduras 1 0 0 1 0 1
 Hungary 1 0 0 1 0 3
 Jamaica 12 1 2 9 5 29
 Martinique 4 1 0 3 6 12
 Mexico 1 0 0 1 0 8
 Montserrat 4 3 1 0 20 6
 Puerto Rico 1 1 0 1 3 2
 Saint Kitts and Nevis 23 9 5 9 30 31
 Saint Lucia 14 5 3 6 23 18
 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13 7 2 4 17 20
 Sint Maarten 3 2 0 1 7 2
 Suriname 6 1 2 3 4 15
 Trinidad and Tobago 13 2 0 11 12 41
 U.S. Virgin Islands 5 5 0 0 26 1
 United States 2 0 0 2 2 5
Total 220 82 39 99 328 375

Honours[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Caribbean Net News: Hungary beat Antigua-Barbuda in exhibition match". caribbeannewsnow.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Eesti Jalgpalli Liit". jalgpall.ee. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  5. ^ Helps, HG (1 April 2018). "A coach's ganja plan". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Text to 774 – 3307 your choice for the name the team contest". Archived from the original on 28 May 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Football (Soccer) Team Nicknames". www.topendsports.com. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Benna Boys Squad". Facebook. ABFA - Antigua And Barbuda Football Association.
  9. ^ "Antigua and Barbuda". National Football Teams.
  10. ^ "Antigua And Barbuda national football team statistics and records: All-time record". 11v11.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.

External links[edit]