They will face Trinidad and Tobago with a chance to stay in the top tier of the CONCACAF Nations League for another year.

If staying two consecutive years at the CONCACAF Nations League A level seemed positive for the Cuban national football team, this Thursday they will have the chance to add another 12 months to the feat.

It turns out that with two games remaining in the group stage of this competition, the Lions of the Caribbean could maintain their status for next season, if they beat their similar team from Trinidad and Tobago.

It is clearly achievable, or at least that’s what coach Yunielys Castillo thinks, who despite extolling the qualities of their opponents, says they will be looking to stay up at home.

The Antonio Maceo stadium in Santiago de Cuba is already preparing to host the clash on the 10th, and part of the squad, including Dayron Reyes, Raico Arozarena and Onel Hernandez, arrived in the eastern province.

On the arrival of the rest of the players, including those who play for clubs in Central American leagues such as Costa Rica, Guatemala and Nicaragua, the coach of the senior team also commented.

«The team will be completed this Wednesday, a day before the match, and it will be then that we will have intense hours of preparation. Although each player has personalised instructions on how to work in these days in terms of physical training and we take advantage of technology to guide us on the tactical fundamentals and the objectives we are pursuing along with the study of the opponent,» Castillo told JIT.

The narrow margin between the completion of the group and the duel responds to reasons of various kinds. Some were linked to the complex flight schedule, in the midst of which it was preferred that these players rest and train in the Dominican Republic.

«They are staying in a comfortable hotel with a gym and where they can train with the instructions that we are offering from here by video conference. We maintain constant communication with them and supervise the whole process,» explained Yunielys.

The other reason is associated with the demanding schedules of most of the players with their clubs, understanding that except for three of them, the rest play on foreign circuits. This prevents extensive training camps and imposes a complex speed, which requires automated dynamism and a greater tactical understanding of the coach’s approach.

«Several of them recently played with their teams in different leagues, so they need a rest, and in that sense the healthiest thing to do is to travel directly to Santiago de Cuba, even if that meant waiting an extra day, we preferred it to exposing them to the long road trip from Havana,» he said.

The Cuban Football Association (AFC) worked to facilitate their stay in Santo Domingo and ensure optimal conditions for their preparation and rest, according to each case, and consequently adjusted the ticketing to the venue.

An effort was also made for the team to travel to Tobago by charter due to the difficult journey to Port of Spain, and from there to the smallest of the islands that make up the Caribbean country.

This is because the hosts have decided to change the venue to the Hasely Crawford Stadium, which involved a long journey by various means of transport including a sea crossing.

With all these difficulties resolved in the most favourable way for the players, the camp now heads to Thursday’s match, where confidence is paramount in the knowledge that it will be crucial to the team’s hopes of maintaining their level of performance.

The three points also puts the Tricolor in a more comfortable position to qualify for the 2025 Gold Cup, which makes it all the more important.

«We are optimistic about what we can achieve on Thursday and aware that it is in our hands, without underestimating an opponent that will surely pose us difficulties,» said Castillo.

Despite the fact that in a complex group the objective is to maintain their status, the double-header against the Soca Warriors could leave Cuba in the top two places if they win a couple of games, which seems more demanding, although it is not unthinkable.

Finally, it was confirmed that William Pozo, recently injured, has been replaced in the squad by striker David de Jesus Perez, who is already in the eastern city.