Team Saint Lucia faced a challenging tournament in the 2026 CFU U-14 Challenge Series, concluding their campaign with a 7-1 loss to Suriname in their final group match. Despite this setback, they finished third in Group D.
Hosted in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, the CFU U-14 Challenge Series featured multiple teams from the region.
In the tough match against Suriname on August 19, Saint Lucia went into halftime trailing 5-0. Alexander Alberga’s hat trick (20th, 22nd, and 28th minutes) and goals from Cillquinhio Plet (25th minute), Valentinho Amaisi, Vaughn Zeegelaar (penalty), and an own goal contributed to Suriname’s victory.
Jaden Antoine netted a consolation goal for Saint Lucia in the 58th minute.
Earlier in the series, Saint Lucia showcased their talent with a dominant 7-0 win over the US Virgin Islands on August 17, where Shem Ishmael and Leon Vidal were standout performers. They also narrowly lost 3-2 to Grenada in their opening match on August 16, despite putting up a strong fight.
Tournament Status and Group Results
– Group Stage Completion: Teams finished their group matches around August 19
– Finals: The semi-final matches were scheduled for Friday, August 21
Notable Group Results:
– Barbados vs. Bermuda: 1-1
– Cayman Islands: Defeated Turks and Caicos Islands 4-1 and beat Dominica 5-1 to secure second place in their group.
– Anguilla vs. Montserrat 4-3
– St Martin vs. Virgin Islands 5-0 loss
– Bahamas vs.Guyana 1-0
The CFU Challenge Series offers a vital opportunity for player development, allowing young athletes to compete against teams from across the CFU region while enhancing their football education. The young national team has concentrated on technical development, tactical understanding, teamwork, and discipline, representing Saint Lucia with pride.
The Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA) emphasizes that participation in the CFU Challenge Series is crucial for developing these young players, helping them build confidence and gain experiences essential for their long-term growth in football.
The SLFA also acknowledges the significant contributions of parents, guardians, clubs, coaches, and volunteers in supporting these young athletes. Players travelled with a committed technical, medical, safeguarding, and administrative team, including :
– Head Coach: Stuart Charles Fevrier
– Assistant Coach: Earl “Ball Hog” Jean