Jamaica squad locked in for the Cup of Nations

Jamaica's coach Lorne Donaldson has named a 24-player squad for the upcoming Cup of Nations, set to kick off in February! 

The Reggae Girlz squad features some new faces, along with 16 players that helped the side qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023 during the 2022 CONCACAF Women's Championship. 

We take you through the side that will be travelling to Australia for the upcoming tournament. 

Goalkeepers

Liya Brooks, Sydney Schneider and Rebecca Spencer

Donaldson has named three young keepers to his squad, with Schneider the only keeper that appeared at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. 

Brooks featured during the 2022 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship for her country, starting in all five of Jamaica's games during the tournament and helping her side to a quarter-final finish. 

Schneider appeared for Jamaica during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, making a memorable penalty save to deny Marta's attempt. 

Lastly, Spencer is a familiar face to WSL fans, making 41 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur while she made her debut for the Reggae Girlz in 2021 after previously representing England at the youth level. 

Defenders

Deneisha Blackwood, Satara Murray, Vyan Sampson, Allyson Swaby, Chantelle Swaby, Siobhan Wilson and Victoria Williams

Victoria Williams receives her first call-up for Jamaica, the defender who has previously played for England at the youth level and currently plies her trade at Brighton alongside Lydia Williams, where she captains the Seagulls side.

The Swaby sisters, Allyson and Chantelle, both featured for Jamaica during their inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup appearance, with 47 caps between them. 

Murray, Sampson and Wilson only have a handful of appearances between them, with Donaldson opting to bring in some younger players to give them a chance to prove themselves before the Reggae Girlz kick off their World Cup campaign against France at Sydney Football Stadium. 

Midfielders

Rachel Jones, Trudi Carter, Peyton McNamara, Havana Solaun, Drew Spence, Paige Bailey-Gayle and Tiernny Wiltshire

Carter and Spence both found the back of the net during Jamaica's qualification run, both on the scoresheet in a 4-0 win over Haiti. 

Solaun has the most caps of the midfielders named to the squad, having played 14 times for her country and making history when she scored the first goal for Jamaica in their final group stage game of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, a 4-1 loss to Australia.  

Forwards

Jody Brown, Atlanta Primus, Cheyna Matthews, Shania Hayles, Kameron Simmonds, Kiki Van Zanten and Solai Washington 

Jamaica's top goalscorer and captain, Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw is a late exclusion from the squad, being replaced by Shania Hayles. The forward currently plays for Bristol City in the Women's Championship, having previously represented England at the U19 level. 

Another player to watch out for during the Cup of Nations is Kiki Van Zanten, the forward who is currently going into her senior year at the University of Notre Dame, scored her debut goal, a matchwinner against Costa Rica to grant Jamaica a third-place finish and ensure back-to-back FIFA Women's World Cup appearances.

The forward previously represented the USA at the U15 and U17 levels before making the move to Jamacia's senior national team.