Dangerous underdogs
Reggae Boz coach believes players ready to put all on the line
Published:Tuesday | March 31, 2026 | 12:10 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
It’s do or die for Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz when they go up against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the FIFA Intercontinental Play-off final at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico today at 4 p.m.
Reggae Boyz coach Rudolph Speid, while admitting that the Africans will start as favourites for the encounter, stated that being underdogs makes them very dangerous.
“It doesn’t matter, rain or shine. We know what we have to do and we are going to do our best. We have an idea about the Congo team. I did travel to the African Nations Cup to watch them play.
“They have been very active over the past two years and have done extremely well. So we know the quality that they bring and we know what their expectations are,” he said.
“We have our expectations, too, and we understand what we have to do, and we will have to deal with it.”
He pointed out that football is not played on paper, and that the Jamaican players fully understand what is at stake and are ready to go out and fight for it.
“When you play a football game, you have three results – a win, a loss or a draw. We understand all three and I think it makes us more dangerous, because we understand what might happen. And we know that the prize is the World Cup, and that is what we are aiming for, too,” he continued.
“They have very good structures both in defence and in attack. Strong players, professional players. They have done extremely well over the last two years; they’ve been to the semi-finals of the African Nations Cup and the last round of 16.
“They have beaten some good teams along the way. But as you know, if ranking and strength of teams gave you wins, then none of us would be here. The game has to be played and that’s what we are looking forward to,” he said.
He added that everyone in the Jamaica camp understands the importance of today’s match, and are ready to give their best.
“At this particular time, it’s the most important game that we are playing. Remember, we had gone to a World Cup before, so I am assuming that that game to qualify us to the World Cup was most important, too. But at this particular time, this is the most important game right now, and Jamaica is expectant, and we want to give them something to smile about.
“We would have spoken, the players and ourselves, because it’s a team effort. The players, coaches, staff, everyone knows that this is a game of importance, not only for the country, but for ourselves, personal pride and what they would like to acheive in their careers. So they’re aware of the stakes and I think they will give their best,” he added.
It has been 52 years since the Congo qualified for a World Cup and coach Sébastien Desabre says his players are excited.
“We’re really fired up. We’re still on course to meet our main objective. That’s the goal we set ourselves when I took this job three and a half years ago.
“This final will be our 13th match since our qualifying campaign began. We’re lucky enough to have talented players who ply their trade at top clubs.
“Above all, everyone has really bought into the project we’ve been building together. Everyone is pulling in the same direction to achieve a common goal,” he said.
The Congolese team has 10 players born in France, five in Belgium, two in Switzerland and one in England, and they currently possess English Premier League stars such as West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa.
The winner of the match will compete in Group K at the World Cup, kicking off against Portugal in Houston on June 17, then Colombia in Guadalajara on June 23, and Uzbekistan in Atlanta on June 27.