Jamaica’s Under-17 women’s national football team secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Honduras on Monday, advancing to the next stage of the 2026 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Qualifiers. The decisive moment came just before halftime when Elizabeth Miller expertly headed home a precisely delivered corner kick from Shennell Walters in the 44th minute at Aruba’s Stadion Guillermo Prospero Trinidad.
The match presented significant challenges for the young Reggae Girlz, who demonstrated remarkable resilience after playing most of the second half with only ten players following Ricquanna Richards’ red card in the 57th minute. Despite being numerically disadvantaged, the Jamaican squad maintained tactical discipline and defensive organization to preserve their narrow lead.
Head Coach Marlon Hylton expressed immense pride in his team’s performance, highlighting their exceptional composure under pressure. “It’s a proud moment for the players and staff and a reward for the hard work and commitment shown throughout the campaign,” Hylton told the Jamaica Observer. “The players stayed organized and trusted the game plan even under pressure.”
Hylton revealed his team employed a compact mid-block strategy designed to exploit Honduras’ defensive vulnerabilities with balls played over the top. The tactical approach proved successful due to what the coach described as “great discipline and communication” from his players, who executed the game plan with “maturity beyond their years.”
While celebrating the victory and qualification, Hylton acknowledged areas needing improvement, particularly offensive efficiency. “Going forward, we must be more clinical in front of goal,” he stated. “I will continue to say this and improve our decision-making in key moments.”
The team now shifts focus to recovery and preparation for next month’s qualification round, with ambitions of making history by qualifying for Jamaica’s first youth Women’s World Cup. Hylton emphasized the importance of maintaining perspective despite the achievement: “This win gives the group confidence and belief, but we remain grounded and focused on continuous improvement.”