DESPITE exiting the final round of the 2026 Concacaf Under-17 Women’s Qualifiers without a win, Marlon Hylton, head coach of Jamaica’s team, is maintaining a positive outlook on the young Reggae Girlz’s future.

The team lost all three group matches, going down 0-9 to Mexico, 0-1 to hosts Costa Rica, and 1-3 to Panama.

However, Hylton believes the experience gained from competing against top-notch opponents will be invaluable for the team’s development.

“When it comes to stronger opponents I wouldn’t say the team is far off,” Hylton told the Jamaica Observer.

“The reality is that the difference at this level comes down to execution in key moments. We have to continue developing physically, tactically, and mentally to close that gap,” Hylton said as he highlighted game management, finishing, and communication on the field as key areas for improvement.

He noted that the team showed resilience, particularly in the final match against Panama, and made progress defensively as the tournament progressed.

“Against Panama, I thought the performance was competitive but the key factors in the result were our inability to take our chances and moments of [lack of] defensive concentration. At this level, those small details make a huge difference,” Hylton said.

The coach emphasised the need for the team to improve their finishing, decision-making, and composure in front of goal, while also focusing on building players who can compete consistently at the international level.

“Balancing development and results is always a challenge at this level but our focus is on building players who can compete consistently at the international level while still aiming to get results,” Hylton said.

Addressing the players and fans, Hylton expressed his confidence in the team’s potential.

“Stay encouraged,” he said. “This group consisted of five 14-year-olds and three 15-year-olds. This experience will help us grow, and I believe this group has the potential to improve and move forward in a positive direction,” he said.

— Ruddy Allen