Soca Warriors to play friendlies against Panama, Nicaragua
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Trinidad and Tobago will play international friendly matches against Panama and Nicaragua next month in preparation for their 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final qualifying in November.
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association has confirmed that the Soca Warriors will play against Panama in Panama City on October 8 before taking on Nicaragua at home on October 13.
The game against Nicaragua is expected to be played at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, which has hosted most of the T&T World Cup qualifiers.
“We already have the warm-up encounter with Panama in Panama City finalised for October 8 and we will then return home for a mini-camp, similar to what will be done for the World Cup qualifiers ahead of the Nicaragua clash,” said T&TFA general secretary Sheldon Phillips.
“Like Panama, Nicaragua should provide us with a good test as we have observed their performances in the two matches against Jamaica and we expect a tough battle as well, one we should be ready for.”
Nicaragua have been making strides in Central America and have put up a decent showing against Jamaica in their recent World Cup qualifying home and away leg, leading the Reggae Boyz 3-0 in Kingston before conceding two late goals.
In their last international outing, the Soca Warriors squandered a 2-0 lead before drawing 3-3 with Mexico in Salt Lake City, Utah, earlier this month, less than two months after the two teams played to a 4-4 thriller at the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
“It’s important for us to have a second game in this window and to keep playing games,” said head coach Stephen Hart.
“Ideally this is a situation where we travel first and then have to return to play at home, which is similar to what we have to do in November and that is one of the more important aspects for us.”
The Soca Warriors will begin their CONCACAF Semi Final Round World Cup qualifying phase away to Guatemala on November 13 before hosting the United States on November 17.
St Vincent and The Grenadines are the other team in the group from which the top two will advance to the six-team CONCACAF Final Round of qualifiers to be played from November next year.
