The recent international window yielded a slew of matches in the Concacaf region with the start of the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League. The majority of teams in the region spread out across Leagues A, B and C had the opportunity to play two matches each.
With the return of the second round of qualifying for FIFA World Cup 26™ coming next June, the international windows in September, October and November serve as extra importance for teams in the Concacaf region.
During the September window, there were many notable performances from players around the Caribbean and Central America. These five in particular caught the eye and look sure to be prominent in their national teams’ qualifying campaigns.
Duckens Nazon (Haiti)
Haiti are poised to march forward into the third round of qualifying, thanks in part to Nazon, who scored in the team’s 2-1 win over Saint Lucia last June to open the second round.
In September, Les Grenadiers’ dangerman picked up where he left off, firing home four goals in Haiti’s two matches in League B. He tallied the final score in the 4-1 win over Puerto Rico before putting Sint Maarten to the sword with a hat-trick in a 6-0 win.
When Nazon is in goalscoring form, he is one of the best strikers in Concacaf. At age 30, he is also at his peak, mixing his intelligent use of space with his dynamic movement, pace and power, all of which makes Haiti a threat to reach just their second World Cup and first since 1974.
Lemus Christopher (St. Vincent & the Grenadines)
St. Vincent & the Grenadines were plagued by defensive issues in their first two matches of World Cup qualifying, as they coughed up a combined seven goals in losses to Suriname and El Salvador.
But their two Nations League matches in League B this month proved to be a different story thanks in large part to the steady hands of Christopher. The Vincy Heat goalkeeper allowed just one goal during the window, in the 1-1 draw with Bonaire, before registering a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory against Montserrat.
Overall, he made ten saves during the window, including back-to-back penalty stops against Montserrat. He was flagged for leaving his line too early on the first save, and then promptly followed that up with another spot-kick stop. St. Vincent & the Grenadines have improved defensively under new coach Ezra Hendrickson, boding well for Christopher and Co when qualifying resumes.
David Ruiz (Honduras)
It seems like Ruiz gets better every time he steps on the pitch, and it doubtless helps a lot that he trains every day with the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets at club side Inter Miami.
After the recent window in League A, Honduras fans would have to agree as well. Ruiz scored a goal in each match for Los Catrachos, coming off the bench for the team’s fourth in a 4-0 win against Trinidad & Tobago, followed by a goal in a narrow 2-1 loss to Jamaica.
Honduras sit comfortably atop their group in qualifying and, with Ruiz roaming the center of the park, they will be in good shape to advance to the next round and be a serious contender for a place at World Cup 26. Goals aside, Ruiz is an incredibly accurate passer, delivering more than 95 per cent of his attempted passes in the two games.
Tiquanny Williams (Saint Kitts & Nevis)
A massive game awaits Saint Kitts and Nevis when qualifying resumes in June, as they pay a visit to Trinidad & Tobago in a contest that will likely decide who claims second place in the group and passage to the next round.
As that high-stakes match awaits, it is a great sign for the Sugar Boyz to see Williams finding the back of the net. The 23-year-old has really come into his own in the last year and bagged four goals for his side during the window.
Williams got Saint Kitts and Nevis off to a perfect six points from two matches to begin League C, notching a brace in a 4-1 win versus the Cayman Islands, followed by another pair of goals in a 2-0 triumph over British Virgin Islands. His calm demeanor in front of net stands out, with a penchant for clinical finishing that is usually reserved for more experienced strikers.
Virgil Misidjan (Suriname)
Normally when one thinks of attacking exploits for Suriname, names like Gleofilo Vlijter or Sheraldo Becker come to mind. But Misidjan is certainly staking his own claim after his playmaking ability in Suriname’s 3-1 win against Guyana. The 31-year-old scored and then contributed an assist against the Golden Jaguars, along with three fouls drawn.
For Suriname, the more weapons the merrier. They lead the way in their qualifying group with six points and can punch their third round ticket next June with a win against Puerto Rico. Misidjan will no doubt play a major role in trying to lead his country to their first ever World Cup.
