Junior Lady Jags driven by ‘immense self-belief’ ahead of U-17 World Cup qualifiers

On paper, the mountain ahead of Guyana’s Under-17 Women’s National Team is steep. But inside the locker room, the Junior Lady Jags are driven by a singular, unwavering objective: to upset the continental hierarchy.

Tasked with navigating a rigorous Group D in the 2026 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Qualifiers, Guyana finds itself alongside regional heavyweights Jamaica and Honduras, as well as St. Vincent and the Grenadines and hosts Aruba.

The first round, which runs from January 24 to February 2, presents a razor-thin margin for error:  out of 30 competing nations, only the six group winners and the two best second-place finishers will survive the round-robin phase to advance.

Despite the daunting landscape, the mood within the camp is one of focused determination.

Speaking before the team’s departure, standout talents Kimora Edwards and Sydney Glean emphasised that, while the task is historic, the squad’s chemistry has peaked at exactly the right moment.

Kimora Edwards, hailing from the remote Kamarang in Region Seven, expressed, “It is very hard, but our spirits are high,” reflecting on the intensity of the pre-tournament camp.

Supporting the backline and midfield is overseas-based Sydney Glean, who brings a tactical edge to the group.

Glean, who expressed she “can’t wait” to hit the pitch in Oranjestad, believes the underdog tag serves as fuel for the squad.

“I think we’ve got that,” Glean said regarding the team’s technical readiness. “To make it [to the next round], we have to execute every minute. We know what it takes to get there.”

The Junior Lady Jags are looking at the historic opportunity to put Guyana on the map for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.