Honduras awaits challenge from Haitian squad

APTOPIX Gold Cup Haiti Canada Soccer
Haiti celebrates a 3-2 win over Canada in a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer quarterfinal Saturday, June 29, 2019, in Houston.
Associated Press/Michael Wyke,file

Honduras may have reached the final of the last three editions of the CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying championship, but that does not mean they will not encounter difficulties in the 2020 edition in Group B against El Salvador, Haiti and Canada, reported CONCACAF on March 11.

It said that the Catrachos emerged as winners in 2008 and runners-up in 2012 and 2015 to book Olympic tickets, but added that a fresh new challenge awaits in 2020.

“Honduras traditionally have some of the best forwards in the CMOQ, and it will be no different this year with FW Luis Palma, who represented his country at the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup and the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup,” said CONCACAF, alluding to the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying.

“Palma’s five goals in six matches at the 2018 CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Champions is proof enough that he is a threat to any defense,” it added.

“Aiding the Honduran cause is that they have never lost in the CMOQ to any of their group opponents, with a 4W-1D-0L record against Canada, 1W-0D-0L versus El Salvador and 1W-0D-0L in meetings with Haiti,” CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying championship continued.

It said that, while Haiti’s squad may lack experience in FIFA Youth World Cups and the nation as a whole have never qualified for an Olympics, “it is still a very talented squad.”

CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying championship said DF Djimy Alexis, who formed part of the memorable Haiti team that reached the semifinals of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup in which he scored the winning goal in the 2-1 comeback win over Costa Rica in the group stage, and MF Shelove Archelus of Danish side Viborg FF, “will help provide punch.”