T&T U-17 Women start WCQ campaign against USVI in Couva on Monday

The Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Under-17 Team start their Fifa 2025 U-17 Women’s World Cup campaign tomorrow against the US Virgin Islands from 8pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

The fixture is the second match of a Group B doubleheader, with Honduras and Belize meeting from 5pm at the same venue.

The T&T Red Angels, ostensibly the National U-17 Team, pose with their silver medals after their 2-1 loss to Jamaica in the Jewels of the Caribbean U-20 final at the Ato Boldon Stadium on 20 December 2024.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

The eventual group winner qualifies automatically to the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship along with the best two runners-up from the six groups.

Five Concacaf nations will eventually advance to the 2025 Fifa U-17 Women’s World Cup, which will be staged in Qatar.


The Trinidad and Tobago U17s, led by coach Ayana Russell, showed their potential at the December 2024 Jewels of the Caribbean U-20 tournament in which they defeated their elder counterparts before being edged 2-1 by the Jamaica National Under-20 team in the final.

Attacker Orielle Martin was arguably the best player in the competition, while full back Kanika Rodriguez, midfielders Cherina Steele and Mia Lee Chong, and flanker Rasheda Archer should be a handful for their opponents this week.

Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National U-17 Team attacker Orielle Martin runs with the ball during Jewels of the Caribbean U-20 final action against Jamaica at the Ato Boldon Stadium on 20 December 2024.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

Trinidad and Tobago will be without stand-out defender Jasmine McNish, who tore her ACL at the Jewels of the Caribbean tournament, and talented attacker Nikita Gosine, who withdrew from the squad after the non-selection of her sister, Natalia Gosine.

Nikita’s late withdrawal means Trinidad and Tobago will have 20 players for the Concacaf tournament, and not 21 like their opponents. And her absence is also likely to see Martin used at centre forward, rather than in her preferred role as an attacking midfielder.

However, the technical staff remain confident that the Women Warriors can get the job done on home soil despite the disruption.

Trinidad and Tobago face Belize on Wednesday night before tackling Honduras on Friday. All the host team’s games kick off at 8pm in Couva.

T&T Red Angels midfielder Cherina Steele (right) passes for a teammate during Jewels of the Caribbean action against Dominica at the Larry Gomes Stadium on 15 December 2024.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

Trinidad and Tobago Women’s National Under-17 Team

Goalkeepers: 1.Zaira Aimey, 18.Kenisha Taylor, 21.Zofia Richards;

Defenders: 20.Jessica Nesbitt, 3.Hackeemar Goodridge, 5.Daniella Paul, 15.Kanika Rodriguez, 2.Kaitlyn Darwent, 17.Mikaela Yearwood;

T&T Red Angels captain and full back Kanika Rodriguez (left) drives a pass to a teammate during the Jewels of the Caribbean action against Dominica at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar on 15 December 2024.
Photo: Daniel Prentice/ Wired868

Midfielders: 6.Cherina Steele, 8.Ty’kaiya Dennis, 11.Sanni Wilson, 13.Zyesha Potts, 12.Rori Gittens, 14.Mia Lee Chong, 16.Madison Campbell, 4.Aniya Thompson;

Attackers: 7.Rasheda Archer, 10.Orielle Martin, 19.Jayda Herbert.

More from Wired868
TTFA vows to investigate “unacceptable behaviour” at Women’s qualifier; apologises to referees and Honduras U17s

Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards condemned the “unacceptable behaviour” by some football supporters at the Ato Read more

T&T U-17s advance despite Honduras defeat; crowd disturbance mars affair

Trinidad and Tobago are through to the 2025 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship, but they had to take the back door Read more

Steely T&T U-17 Women down Belize, set up final qualifying showdown with Honduras

Trinidad and Tobago are just one point away from a place in the 2025 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship now, as Read more

Des Vignes-Gosine: It’s my job to protect my children; Gosine sisters affected negatively

“[…] I won’t go as far as to say they were being victimised, or maybe I should. “Either way, what Read more

Martin delivers four-star showing, as T&T U-17s thump USVI 5-0 in Concacaf opener

Sixteen-year-old Orielle Martin gave Trinidad and Tobago football fans another glimpse of her rare talent yesterday as the Women’s National Read more

Nikita Gosine quits T&T Women’s U-17 team; mother demands humane selection process from national coaches

Trinidad and Tobago will be a player short for the 2025 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Qualifiers, which kicks off tomorrow in Read more

Check Also

TTFA vows to investigate “unacceptable behaviour” at Women’s qualifier; apologises to referees and Honduras U17s

Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Kieron Edwards condemned the “unacceptable behaviour” by some …

One comment

  1. I think it’s really sad that this parent missed a great opportunity to teach her daughters what real teamwork is and what the real world is like. The message she has sent is that it’s only good if she wins. should be, “Now let’s work harder to make the team next time.”
    No one is guaranteed a spot and if she was selected, someone else would be omitted. It is not a family affair.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.