Antigua and Barbuda national football team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Antigua and Barbuda women's national football team.

Quick facts for kids
Antigua and Barbuda

Nickname(s)

The Benna Boys

Association

Antigua and Barbuda Football Association

Confederation

CONCACAF (North America)

Sub-confederation

Caribbean Football Union (Caribbean)

Head coach

Mikele Leigertwood

Captain

Quinton Griffith

Most caps

Peter Byers (91)

Top scorer

Peter Byers (44)

Home stadium

Antigua Recreation Ground
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium

FIFA code

ATG

First colours

Second colours

FIFA ranking

Current

126

(7 February 2019)

Highest

70 (October 2014)

Lowest

170 (December 2003 – January 2004)

Elo ranking

Current

167

5 (3 March 2019)

Highest

131 (November 2010)

Lowest

179 (November 2007)

First international

Trinidad and Tobago 11–1 Antigua and Barbuda

(Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago; 10 November 1972)

Biggest win

Antigua and Barbuda 10–0 U.S. Virgin Islands

(North Sound, Antigua & Barbuda; 11 October 2011)

Biggest defeat

Trinidad and Tobago 11–1 Antigua and Barbuda

(Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago; 10 November 1972)

Medal record

CFU Caribbean Cup

Silver	1988 Martinique	Team

The Antigua and Barbuda national football team is the national team of Antigua and Barbuda and is controlled by the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association, a member of the CONCACAF and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU). The team has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup or the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

History

On November 10, 1972, Antigua and Barbuda's first match was a 1974 FIFA World Cup qualifying match versus Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain. The match was a 11-1 thrashing which to this day is this national team's worst defeat.

On 17 December 2005, the Antigua and Barbuda national team played their first match against a European opponent after the Hungarian Football Federation invited "the Benna Boys" to play Hungary in an international friendly at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This was the first match coached by former national striker Derrick Edwards. Hungary defeated Antigua and Barbuda 3–0.

On 2 May 2016, the Estonian Football Association announced that their national team would play Antigua and Barbuda in an international friendly on 22 November. It was the team's second match against a European opponent. Estonia won the game 1–0.

During the March 2018 FIFA Calendar Antigua and Barbuda played Jamaica, drawing 1–1 away at Sabina Park, levelling in the last seconds of match from a header from Peter Byers.

Team image

Nicknames

The official nickname of the Antigua and Barbuda national football team is "the Benna Boys", referring to a genre of Antiguan and Barbudan music similar to calypso. The name was selected in a contest with the fanbase in 2012 after the team advanced to the third round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. "The Benna Boys" beat out other entries in the contest such as "Beach Boys", "Iron Bandits", "Rhythm Warriors" and "Party Crashers". In the past, the national team was unofficially known as "the Wadadli Boys", another name that was in the contest but did not win.

Kit suppliers

The kit of the national team has been manufactured by Spanish-based Joma since March 2021, ahead of the first round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Kit manufacturer	Time period
Admiral	1995–1999
Virma [it]	2000–2003
Adidas	2006–2011
Peak	2012–2016
Admiral	2016–2020
Joma	2021–present

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Win Draw Loss Fixture

2023

2022–23 Nations League 23 March	Guadeloupe	0–1	Antigua and Barbuda	Les Abymes, Guadeloupe
19:00 UTC−4			Nathaniel-George 57'	Stadium: Stade René Serge Nabajoth Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauzière (Canada)

2022–23 Nations League 26 March	Antigua and Barbuda	1–2	Barbados	North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda
16:00 UTC−4	Weston 31'		Gale 62' James 87'	Stadium: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium Referee: Ismael Cornejo (El Salvador)

2023 Gold Cup qualification 16 June	Antigua and Barbuda	0–5	Guadeloupe	Fort Lauderdale, United States
16:30 UTC−4			Solvet 28' Tell 45+4' Davidas 66' Archimède 70' Phaëton 90+3'	Stadium: DRV PNK Stadium Referee: Fernando Guerrero (Mexico)

2023–24 Nations League 9 September	Antigua and Barbuda	1–5	Guyana	Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda
15:30 UTC−4	Deterville 45'		Glasgow 14', 29' (pen.), 87' Benjamin 33' Cordice 62' (o.g.)	Stadium: ABFA Technical Center Referee: Mario Escobar (Guatemala)

2023–24 Nations League 12 September	Puerto Rico	5–0	Antigua and Barbuda	Nassau, Bahamas
19:00 UTC−4	Díaz 15', 46', 90' Rivera 39' (pen.), 43'			Stadium: Thomas Robinson Stadium Referee: Melvin Matamoros (Honduras)

2023–24 Nations League 14 October	Bahamas	1–4	Antigua and Barbuda	Nassau, Bahamas
18:00 UTC−4	Julmis 62'		Stevens 3', 9' Bramble 43' Griffith 77' (pen.)	Stadium: Thomas Robinson Stadium Referee: Sergio Reyna (Guatemala)

2023–24 Nations League 17 October	Antigua and Barbuda	2–2	Bahamas	Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda
15:30 UTC−4	Parker 54' Bramble 59'		Wells 5' Johnson 82'	Stadium: ABFA Technical Center Referee: Reon Radix (Grenada)

2023–24 Nations League 18 November	Antigua and Barbuda	2–3	Puerto Rico	Piggotts, Antigua and Barbuda
15:00 UTC−4	Pereira 52' Deterville 54'		W. Rivera 7', 58' Ríos 33'	Stadium: ABFA Technical Center Referee: Benjamin Whitty (Cayman Islands)

2023–24 Nations League 21 November	Guyana	6–0	Antigua and Barbuda	Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
20:00 UTC−4	Benjamin 7' Glasgow 36' Moriah-Welsh 45' De Rosario 67' Lovell 90' Moore 90+3'			Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez Referee: Sergio Rozenhout (Suriname)

2024

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 5 June	Antigua and Barbuda	v	Bermuda
--:-- UTC−4

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 8 June	Cayman Islands	v	Antigua and Barbuda
--:-- UTC−5

2025

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 6 June	Antigua and Barbuda	v	Cuba
--:-- UTC−4

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 10 June	Honduras	v	Antigua and Barbuda
--:-- UTC−6

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Name	Position
Mikele Leigertwood	Head coach
Neil Schyan Jeffers	Assistant coach
Lenny Hewlett	Assistant coach
Janiel Simon	Goalkeeper coach
Evans Jones	Trainer
Horatio Morrison	Physiotherapist
Malcolm Challenger	Equipment manager

Manager history

Polish manager Piotr Nowak was at the helm of Antigua and Barbuda when they achieved their highest FIFA ranking (70) in October 2014.

The following is a list of head coaches of the Antigua and Barbuda national team throughout the years.

Name	Period	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	Notes
Rudi Gutendorf	1976
Zoran Vraneš	1998–2000					Fourth place at the 1998 Caribbean Cup
Walter Gama	2001–2002
Rolston Williams	2004
Derrick Edwards	2005–2008
Willie Donachie	2008	16	8	3	5
Rowan Benjamin	2008–2011	11	4	3	4
Tom Curtis	2011–2012	21	8	3	10	Semifinal round of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers
Rolston Williams	2012–2014	6	4	0	2
Piotr Nowak	2014–2015	12	5	2	5	Highest FIFA Ranking (70) under his tenure
Rolston Williams	2015–2018	8	3	0	5
Derrick Edwards	2018–2019	6	2	1	3
Michél Dinzey	2019–2020	10	4	0	6
Mikele Leigertwood	2021–	9	5	1	3

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification match against Guadeloupe on 16 June 2023.

Caps and goals are correct as of 16 June 2023, after the match against Guadeloupe.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1GK	Nick Townsend	(1994-11-01) 1 November 1994 (age 30)	7	0	Newport County
1GK	Taj Moore	(2005-06-16) 16 June 2005 (age 19)	0	0

2DF	Karanja Mack	(1987-08-24) 24 August 1987 (age 37)	58	0	Parham
2DF	Daniel Bowry	(1998-04-29) 29 April 1998 (age 26)	17	1	Worthing
2DF	Aaron Taylor-Sinclair	(1991-04-08) 8 April 1991 (age 33)	9	0	Airdrieonians
2DF	Jahzime Barthley	(2005-04-13) 13 April 2005 (age 19)	0	0	All Saints United

3MF	Quinton Griffith (Captain)	(1992-02-27) 27 February 1992 (age 32)	73	9	Five Islands
3MF	Shevorn Phillip	(1996-09-09) 9 September 1996 (age 28)	16	1	Liberta
3MF	TJ Bramble	(2001-05-09) 9 May 2001 (age 23)	10	0	Welling United
3MF	Ashley Nathaniel-George	(1995-06-14) 14 June 1995 (age 29)	7	1	Maidenhead United
3MF	Henry Antyon	(2002-04-23) 23 April 2002 (age 22)	1	0	Hoppers
3MF	Karique Knight	(2005-04-03) 3 April 2005 (age 19)	1	0	Urlings Golden Stars
3MF	Jahzinho O'Garro	(2002-12-12) 12 December 2002 (age 21)	1	0	Parham
3MF	Kemio Williams	(1998-10-26) 26 October 1998 (age 26)	1	0	Old Road
3MF	Shakore Simon	(2000-02-10) 10 February 2000 (age 24)	0	0

4FW	Josh Parker	(1990-12-01) 1 December 1990 (age 33)	37	5	Oxford City
4FW	Shalon Knight	(2000-03-04) 4 March 2000 (age 24)	3	0	Swetes
4FW	Whitney Gonsalves	(1999-01-07) 7 January 1999 (age 25)	1	0
4FW	Zayn Hakeem	(1999-02-15) 15 February 1999 (age 25)	1	0	Shepshed Dynamo
4FW	Eroy Gonsalves	(2006-09-18) 18 September 2006 (age 18)	0	0

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Antigua and Barbuda squad within the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Shahoi Dorsett	(2004-06-23) 23 June 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Villa Lions	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023
GK	Zaieem Scott	(2004-07-09) 9 July 2004 (age 20)	0	0	Green City	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023

DF	Zaine Francis-Angol	(1993-06-30) 30 June 1993 (age 31)	26	0	Buxton	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF	Mahlon Romeo	(1995-09-18) 18 September 1995 (age 29)	14	0	Cardiff City	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF	Leroy Graham	(1999-12-07) 7 December 1999 (age 24)	13	0	Five Islands	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF	Kendukar Challenger	(1997-01-24) 24 January 1997 (age 27)	10	0	All Saints United	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF	Vashami Allen	(1997-04-09) 9 April 1997 (age 27)	8	0	Jennings	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023

MF	Myles Weston	(1988-03-12) 12 March 1988 (age 36)	14	9	Bromley	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023
MF	Kwame Kirby	(2001-11-28) 28 November 2001 (age 22)	0	0	Villa Lions	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023
MF	Zafique Drew	(2003-08-30) 30 August 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Villa Lions	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023

FW	Javorn Stevens	(1998-05-09) 9 May 1998 (age 26)	23	1	Greenbay Hoppers	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023
FW	D'Andre Bishop	(2002-10-02) 2 October 2002 (age 22)	17	3	Belišće	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023
FW	Raheem Deterville	(1999-12-01) 1 December 1999 (age 24)	6	0	Old Road	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023
FW	D'Jarie Sheppard	(2003-06-28) 28 June 2003 (age 21)	4	0	Willikies	v. Barbados; 26 March 2023

Player records

Players in bold are still active with Antigua and Barbuda.

Peter Byers is Antigua and Barbuda's top goalscorer and most-capped player.

Most appearances

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Peter Byers	91	44	2004–2021
2	Quinton Griffith	79	10	2009–present
3	George Dublin	67	4	2000–2012
4	Tamorley Thomas	64	12	2002–2021
5	Karanja Mack	58	0	2006–present
6	Ranjae Christian	54	5	1998–2012
7	Randolph Burton	52	15	2008–2016
7	Akeem Thomas	52	2	2008–2018
9	Gayson Gregory	49	8	2000–2014
9	Molvin James	49	0	2007–2021

Top goalscorers

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	Peter Byers	44	91	0.48	2004–2021
2	Derrick Edwards	18	20	0.9	1988–2000
3	Randolph Burton	15	52	0.29	2008–2016
4	Tamorley Thomas	12	64	0.19	2002–2021
5	Jamie Thomas	10	31	0.32	2006–2011
6	Quinton Griffith	10	79	0.13	2009–present
7	Myles Weston	9	16	0.56	2014–present
8	Garfield Gonsalves	8	29	0.28	1992–2008
	Kerry Skepple	8	34	0.24	2002–2012
	Gayson Gregory	8	49	0.16	2000–2014

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup										Qualification
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	F	A	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	F	A
1930 to 1970	Not a FIFA member									Not a FIFA member
1974	Did not qualify									4	0	0	4	3	22
1978	Did not enter									Did not enter
1982	Did not enter									Did not enter
1986	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	2	5
1990										2	0	0	2	1	4
1994										4	1	1	2	5	6
1998										2	0	1	1	4	6
2002										6	1	2	3	4	15
2006										2	1	0	1	2	3
2010										4	2	0	2	7	8
2014										12	5	1	6	32	18
2018										4	2	0	2	6	6
2022										4	2	1	1	6	5
2026	To be determined									To be determined
2030
2034
Total		0/13								46	15	6	25	72	98

CONCACAF Gold Cup

CONCACAF Championship & Gold Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1963	Part of United Kingdom									Part of United Kingdom
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973	Did not qualify									4	0	0	4	3	22
1977	Did not enter									Did not enter
1981	Did not enter									Did not enter
1985	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	2	5
1989	Did not qualify									2	1	1	0	1	4
1991	Did not enter									Did not enter
1993	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	1	1
1996										3	1	2	2	6	11
1998										2	0	0	2	1	5
2000										11	4	2	5	24	17
2002										3	0	1	2	4	5
2003										5	0	1	4	1	8
2005										3	1	0	2	6	8
2007										6	2	0	4	8	17
2009										9	4	3	2	19	16
2011										6	2	2	2	4	5
2013										3	1	0	2	3	3
2015										9	4	2	3	14	11
2017										6	3	0	3	10	8
2019										4	2	0	2	10	8
2021										6	3	0	3	8	17
2023										7	3	0	4	5	12
Total		0/22								93	33	14	46	130	183

CONCACAF Nations League

CONCACAF Nations League record
Season	Division	Group	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	P/R	Rank
2019−20	B	C	6	3	0	3	8	17		21st
2022–23	B	A	6	3	0	3	5	7		21st
2023–24	B	D	6	1	1	4	9	22		20th
Total			18	7	1	10	22	46	20th

CONCACAF Nations League history
First match	Jamaica 6–0 Antigua and Barbuda (6 September 2019; Montego Bay, Jamaica)
Biggest win	Bahamas 1–4 Antigua and Barbuda (14 October 2023; Nassau, Bahamas)
Biggest defeat	Jamaica 6–0 Antigua and Barbuda (6 September 2019; Montego Bay, Jamaica) Guyana 6–0 Antigua and Barbuda (21 November 2023; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
Best result	—
Worst result	—

CFU Caribbean Cup

Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
CFU Championship & Caribbean Cup record										Qualification record
1978	Fourth place	4th	5	1	1	3	4	8	Squad	2	1	1	0	3	0
1979	Did not qualify									2	0	0	2	0	2
1981	Did not enter									Did not enter
1983	Fourth place	4th	7	2	2	3	11	10	Squad	4	2	2	0	10	5
1985	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	2	2
1988	Runners-up	2nd	5	1	4	0	5	4	Squad	2	1	1	0	2	1
1989	Did not qualify									4	3	0	1	4	2
1990	Did not qualify									3	0	1	2	2	5
1991	Did not enter									Did not enter
1992	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	2	12	Squad	3	3	0	0	8	0
1993	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	1	1
1994	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	10	3
1995	Group stage	7th	3	1	0	2	3	8	Squad	2	0	2	0	3	3
1996	Withdrew									Withdrew
1997	Group stage	6th	2	0	0	2	1	5	Squad	Qualified as hosts
1998	Fourth place	4th	5	2	0	3	11	9	Squad	3	2	1	0	11	3
1999	Did not qualify									3	0	1	2	2	5
2001										3	0	1	2	4	5
2005										3	1	0	2	6	8
2007										6	2	0	4	8	17
2008	Group stage	7th	3	0	2	1	3	6	Squad	6	4	1	1	16	10
2010	Group stage	5th	3	1	0	2	2	4	Squad	3	1	2	0	2	1
2012	Group stage	8th	3	1	0	2	3	3	Squad	Qualified as hosts
2014	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	2	7	Squad	6	4	1	1	12	4
2017	Did not qualify									6	3	0	3	10	8
Total	Runners-up	11/25	42	9	11	22	47	76	—	67	30	14	23	116	85

***Red border color indicates that Antigua and Barbuda was the host nation.

Head-to-head record

The following table shows Antigua and Barbuda's all-time official international record per opponent:

Key

Winning record Equal record Losing record

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
Anguilla	5	5	0	0	28	3
Aruba	5	5	0	0	11	4
Bahamas	1	1	0	0	6	0
Barbados	7	1	1	5	8	14
Bermuda	11	3	4	4	12	14
British Virgin Islands	8	4	2	2	14	10
Cayman Islands	2	0	1	1	1	3
Cuba	7	0	1	6	4	18
Curaçao	4	3	0	1	10	6
Dominica	15	8	4	3	27	18
Dominican Republic	6	1	2	3	8	11
El Salvador	1	0	0	1	0	3
Estonia	1	0	0	1	0	1
French Guiana	1	1	0	0	2	1
Grenada	6	3	3	0	13	7
Guadeloupe	6	2	1	3	4	7
Guatemala	8	1	0	7	3	31
Guyana	12	5	3	4	15	22
Haiti	12	2	3	7	11	19
Honduras	1	0	0	1	0	1
Hungary	1	0	0	1	0	3
Jamaica	12	1	2	9	5	29
Martinique	4	1	0	3	6	12
Mexico	1	0	0	1	0	8
Montserrat	4	3	1	0	20	6
Puerto Rico	1	1	0	1	3	2
Saint Kitts and Nevis	23	9	5	9	30	31
Saint Lucia	14	5	3	6	23	18
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	13	7	2	4	17	20
Sint Maarten	3	2	0	1	7	2
Suriname	6	1	2	3	4	15
Trinidad and Tobago	13	2	0	11	12	41
U.S. Virgin Islands	5	5	0	0	26	1
United States	2	0	0	2	2	5
Total	220	82	39	99	328	375