Jamaica's Under-17 female football team was tossed in a tough group or the upcoming CONCACAF World Cup - qualifying tournament following the lottery draw at the confederation's headquarters in New York yesterday.

The Reggae Girlz were placed in Group B of the qualifying tournament with giants Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The play-offs will take place at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Trinidad & Tobago between July 17-26.

Hosts Trinidad & Tobago were drawn with Costa Rica, El Salvador and USA in Group A, and they will do battle at the Marvin Lee Stadium, also in the twin-island republic.
The inaugural eight-team tournament will have two groups of four during the first round from July 17-21. The semi-finals and final will take place at the Marvin Lee Stadium on July 24 and 26, respectively.
The CONCACAF tournament will qualify three teams to the inaugural FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand this year.
Under-17 coach, Junior Francis, is aware that Jamaica got a tough group, but he remains optimistic.
"We have two of the three strongest teams in the region, therefore our group will be the most difficult...," said Francis.
He believes the inclusion of two Canadian-based Jamaicans in the team - Jovel Hydre and Jameela Campbell Henney - will give the effort a lift.

"They know how the Canadian team plays and their comment after training with our team is that, 'our girls are far better than the Canadians'," said Francis.

Hydre, a tall and powerful central defender and the speedy striker Campbell Henny, are two new additions to the Jamaica set-up.

Also at yesterday's draw, Jamaica's U-20 Women's team found out that their Group B qualifying opponents will be Canada, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Meanwhile, hosts Mexico have been drawn into Group A with Cuba, T&T and the defending champions USA.
The eight teams were drawn in two groups for the CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship that will take place at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla, Mexico, from June 17-28.

At the end of these play-offs, the top three teams will progress to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year.

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