The Tribune

By JONATHAN BURROWS

Tribune Sports Reporter

jburrows@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Under-14 boys suffered their first loss of the 2026 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) U14 Boys Challenge Series, falling 1-0 to Guyana yesterday in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

The Bahamas entered the matchup undefeated after opening the tournament with a 3-0 victory over Anguilla before blanking Montserrat 5-0.

The loss moved The Bahamas to 2-1 in Tier II of Group C.

Guyana scored once to secure the victory and finish the group stage with the win over The Bahamas.

Kai McIntosh was named The Bahamas’ Player of the Match for the 5-0 victory over Montserrat after scoring twice.

McIntosh opened the scoring in the eighth minute against Montserrat after beating his defender one on one. Captain Dirk Simmons doubled the lead in the 16th minute before McIntosh completed his brace in the 33rd minute.

Quinn Major and Mathis Bournas scored the other two goals.

Simmons also scored twice in the opening victory over Anguilla, finding the net in the 50th and 60th minutes before Kingston Peel added the third goal.

Head coach Alexander Thompson said before the Guyana matchup that the team had prepared specifically to compete at a high level throughout the tournament. “I would say that we planned and prepared for it,” Thompson said. “The boys have been together as a group for quite some time, and it was really great to see all of the hard work pay off in those two games.”

Thompson also credited the team’s defensive pressure and ability to transition into attack for its early success.

“The main thing that we preached to the boys was dominate your one-on-one battles,” he said. “We pride ourselves on being able to defend at a high level and create chances through our high press.”

The Bahamas will now await the final group standings to determine its next opponent in the competition.

The CFU U14 Boys Challenge Series semi-finals are scheduled for August 21, with the championship game set for August 23.