Antigua and Barbuda national football team

First international match

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.

Friendlies against European teams

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

2018 drug bust in Jamaica

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. Upon the team's preparation for their departure back to Antigua, assistant coach Derrick Edwards and equipment manager Danny Benjamin were arrested and charged with possession of, dealing in, and taking steps to export marijuana, and conspiracy at the Norman Manley International Airport. Initially, Edwards was awarded bail and Benjamin was held without bail; after a month, both Edwards and Benjamin were placed under house arrest and curfew and gave up their travel documents.^[6] Both men were acquitted of the crime on 14 June, citing there was not enough evidence to prove their involvement in the carrying the drugs with the intention of smuggling them out of Jamaica.^{[citation needed]}

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".^[7] In the past, the national team was unofficially known as "the Wadadli Boys", another name that was in the contest but did not win.^[8]

Kit suppliers

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antigua and Barbuda national football team kits.

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.^{[citation needed]}

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

Guadeloupe  v  Antigua and Barbuda

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

Antigua and Barbuda  v  Barbados

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

Antigua and Barbuda  v  Guadeloupe

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

Antigua and Barbuda  v  Guyana

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

Puerto Rico  v  Antigua and Barbuda

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

Bahamas  v  Antigua and Barbuda

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

Antigua and Barbuda  v  Bahamas

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

Antigua and Barbuda  v  Puerto Rico

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

Guyana  v  Antigua and Barbuda

21 November 2023–24 Nations League	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'	Report		Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez Referee: Sergio Rozenhout (Suriname)

2024

Antigua and Barbuda  v  Bermuda

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

Cayman Islands  v  Antigua and Barbuda

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

2025

Antigua and Barbuda  v  Cuba

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

Honduras  v  Antigua and Barbuda

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

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

The following is a list of head coaches of the Antigua and Barbuda national team throughout the years.^{[citation needed]}

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

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification match against Guadeloupe on 16 June 2023.^[9]

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

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Nick Townsend	(1994-11-01) 1 November 1994 (age 29)	7	0	Newport County
	1GK	Taj Moore	(2005-06-16) 16 June 2005 (age 18)	0	0
	2DF	Karanja Mack	(1987-08-24) 24 August 1987 (age 36)	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 27)	16	1	Liberta
	3MF	TJ Bramble	(2001-05-09) 9 May 2001 (age 22)	10	0	Welling United
	3MF	Ashley Nathaniel-George	(1995-06-14) 14 June 1995 (age 28)	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 25)	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 17)	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 19)	0	0	Villa Lions	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
GK	Zaieem Scott	(2004-07-09) 9 July 2004 (age 19)	0	0	Green City	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF	Zaine Francis-Angol	(1993-06-30) 30 June 1993 (age 30)	26	0	Buxton	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF	Mahlon Romeo	(1995-09-18) 18 September 1995 (age 28)	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 20)	0	0	Villa Lions	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
FW	Javorn Stevens	(1998-05-09) 9 May 1998 (age 25)	23	1	Greenbay Hoppers	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
FW	D'Andre Bishop	(2002-10-02) 2 October 2002 (age 21)	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 20)	4	0	Willikies	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023

As of 21 November 2023^[10]

Players in bold are still active with Antigua and Barbuda.

Most appearances

Top goalscorers

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
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
1985	Did not qualify										2	1	0	1	2	5
1989											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
League											Finals
Season	Division	Group	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	P/R		Finals	Results	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad
2019−20	B	C	6	3	0	3	8	17			2021	Did not qualify
2022–23	B	A	6	3	0	3	5	7			2023
2023–24	B	D	6	1	1	4	9	22			2024
2024–25	B	To be determined									2025
Total	—	—	18	7	1	10	22	46	—		Total	0 Titles	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

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

CFU Championship & Caribbean Cup record											Qualification record
Year	Result	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
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											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											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.

The following table shows Antigua and Barbuda's all-time official international record per opponent:^[11]

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

• CFU Caribbean Championship/Caribbean Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 1988
  • Fourth place (3): 1978, 1983, 1998

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antigua and Barbuda national association football team.

• Official website