Dominica Senior Women’s football team match with Anguilla cancelled amid players contracted COVID

Roseau: Matches to take place between the female football teams of the Commonwealth of Dominica and Anguilla has been cancelled amid several players tested positive for the deadliest COVID-19 viral disease. As per reports, two matches were scheduled to take place in Anguilla this week.

Dominica Senior Women’s team was scheduled to leave for Anguilla on January 28, 2022, to play the two matches, which would show up to the Concacaf W qualifiers in February.

Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the Dominica Football Association (DFA) Gerald George, speaking on cancelling of the matches, stated the situation as unfortunate as well as disappointing for the women players of both the teams, who have been working hard with dedication for this faceoff.

“This is a disappointment for the players, coaches and officials of the DFA given the extensive hours of training,” the PRO added, noting a lot of opportunities are ahead of the Dominican senior women’s team, which they will conquer. George also cited that the team looks forward to the upcoming qualifiers.

Concacaf released the matches schedule for the Women’s International Match Window of February 2022. CWC spokesperson cited, “Concacaf has confirmed the schedule for the Concacaf W Qualifiers – CWQ matches taking place during the Women’s International Match Window of February 2022. These matches will kick off the region’s first round of qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 2024 Paris Summer Olympics”.

This year, the series will witness a change in its structure. The new competitions include the 2022 Concacaf W Qualifiers, 2022 Concacaf W Championship, 2023 Road to Concacaf W Gold Cup, and 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup. Concacaf highlighted that this change would broadly increase the competitive opportunities for women’s national teams and as well as is a part of the Confederation’s wider strategy to develop women and girls’ football at all levels in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.