Jamaica’s senior women’s football team is scheduled to play two friendly games against Chile in the next FIFA window later this month, and Head Coach Xavier Gilbert believes it will be another opportunity for the players being selected to showcase their abilities.

The roster does not feature any of the players who represented the country at the 2023 FIFA World Cup, as they and the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) have yet to reach an agreement on how to proceed following the parties’ most recent impasse.

The Reggae Girlz will play the South Americans on February 23 and 27, with the team scheduled to assemble in Chile on February 21 ahead of the games.

Gilbert stated that, while the roster is largely made up of players that competed in the previous Concacaf Woman Gold Cup qualifiers, he welcomes the additions of Jade Bailey and Naya Cardoza to the line-up.

Bailey, who just signed with the London City Lionesses, is returning to the national squad after knee surgery, while Cardoza, a national Under-17 representative, is making the move to the senior team.

“Most of the players who played in the Gold Cup qualifiers, along with Jade Bailey, who has been out injured for a while, and Naya Cardoza, who was unavailable because of school and college commitments earlier,” Gilbert told the Jamaica Observer.

“So it’s pretty much a young squad, similar, as I said, to the last Gold Cup qualifiers, and it’s good exposure for them at a high level, clearly being a very competitive team. So [it is] for them to showcase their talent again; show the world what they can do and represent their country well,” he added.

This will be the second friendly series between the two sides since their 2019 encounter in Jamaica. The Reggae Girlz won the two-game series 1-0 and 3-2. However, Chile, in their most recent match against Jamaica in last year’s Pan American Games, won 6-0.

Gilbert once again expressed pride in serving his country in the capacity of head coach and his determination to do his best. He also acknowledged the strength of the opposing team, Chile, and emphasised the importance of representing Jamaica well.

“It is always a privilege to serve your country. I’m proud to serve and proud to be on duty again, and so I’ll give it my best. We’ll do as best as we can,” he said.

SQUAD: Theana Burnett (Sacred Heart University), Serena Mensa (Fordham University), Malikae Dayes (AAB Denmark), Zoe Vidaurre (George Mason University), Nevillegail Able (University of Maine at Fort Kent), Chinyelu Asher (SCU Torreense), Alika Keene (SK Slavia Praha Zeny), Marlo Sweatman (Viktoria Haladas), Ricshya Walker (LaSalle University), Christina Salmon (William Carey University), Davia Richards (Hill College), Mikayla Dayes (Rodez AF France), Shaneil Buckley (Excelsior), Melissa Johnson (Charlton Athletic Women FC), Aliyah Morgan (George Mason University), Jade Bailey (London City Lionessess), Destiny Powell (Excelsior), Lachante Paul (Burnley), Isreala Groves (London City Lionessess), Naya Cardoza (Brown University), Njeri Butts (University of Florida), and Sydnie Street (Seneca College).