Recap
The Cayman Islands national men’s football team will welcome Aruba to Truman Bodden Sports Complex for their scheduled fixture in the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League. Following a 2-2 draw against the US Virgin Islands on Thursday, they are are still on a quest to secure their first victory in almost four years. They will miss a handful of key players like goalkeepers Mclean-Giraud and Whittaker, defenders Rowe, Reynolds, midfielders Tibbetts, Silburn, Murillo, forwards Mark Ebanks, Webb, Duval, Nelson, Studenhofft, Miller, Tugman and have a relatively inexperienced team. Aruba will be making their debut in this CNL after a second-place group finish in last year’s CNL. Terence Groothusen (Sliema) remains the team’s key player, having scored two goals in the 2022-23 tournament. They have a better team with players like Benjamin Maria and Javier Jimenez, who are playing in Netherlands and German lower leagues. There has been just one previous meeting between these two sides, coming in the First Round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 when Aruba emerged with a 1-3 victory.