Antigua and Barbuda national football team

On November 10th, 1972, Antigua and Barbuda's first match was a 1974 FIFA World Cup qualifying match versus Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain. The match was a 11-1 thrashing which to this day is this national team's worst defeat.

On 17 December 2005, the Antigua and Barbuda national team played their first match against a European opponent after the Hungarian Football Federation invited "the Benna Boys" to play Hungary in an international friendly at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This was the first match coached by former national striker Derrick Edwards. Hungary defeated Antigua and Barbuda 3–0.[2]

On 2 May 2016, the Estonian Football Association announced that their national team would play Antigua and Barbuda in an international friendly on 22 November. It was the team's second match against a European opponent. Estonia won the game 1–0.[3]

During the March 2018 FIFA Calendar Antigua and Barbuda played Jamaica, drawing 1–1 away at Sabina Park, levelling in the last seconds of match from a header from Peter Byers. Upon the team's preparation for their departure back to Antigua, assistant coach Derrick Edwards and equipment manager Danny Benjamin were arrested and charged with possession of, dealing in, and taking steps to export marijuana, and conspiracy at the Norman Manley International Airport. Initially, Edwards was awarded bail and Benjamin was held without bail; after a month, both Edwards and Benjamin were placed under house arrest and curfew and gave up their travel documents.[4] Both men were acquitted of the crime on 14 June, citing there was not enough evidence to prove their involvement in the carrying the drugs with the intention of smuggling them out of Jamaica.

The official nickname of the Antigua and Barbuda national football team is "the Benna Boys", referring to a genre of Antiguan and Barbudan music similar to calypso. The name was selected in a contest with the fanbase in 2012 after the team advanced to the third round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. "The Benna Boys" beat out other entries in the contest such as "Beach Boys", "Iron Bandits", "Rhythm Warriors" and "Party Crashers".[5] In the past, the national team was unofficially known as "the Wadadli Boys", another name that was in the contest but did not win.[6]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Antigua and Barbuda national football team kits.

The kit of the national team has been manufactured by Spanish-based Joma since March 2021, ahead of the first round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Polish manager Piotr Nowak was at the helm of Antigua and Barbuda when they achieved their highest FIFA ranking (70) in October 2014.

The following is a list of head coaches of the Antigua and Barbuda national team throughout the years.

Name	Period	Matches	Wins	Draws	Losses	Notes
Rudi Gutendorf	1976
Zoran Vraneš	1998–2000					Fourth place at the 1998 Caribbean Cup
Walter Gama	2001–2002
Rolston Williams	2004
Derrick Edwards	2005–2008
Willie Donachie	2008	16	8	3	5
Rowan Benjamin	2008–2011	11	4	3	4
Tom Curtis	2011–2012	21	8	3	10	Semifinal round of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers
Rolston Williams	2012–2014	6	4	0	2
Piotr Nowak	2014–2015	12	5	2	5	Highest FIFA Ranking (70) under his tenure
Rolston Williams	2015–2018	8	3	0	5
Derrick Edwards	2018–2019	6	2	1	3
Michél Dinzey	2019–2020	10	4	0	6
Mikele Leigertwood	2021–	9	5	1	3

The following players were called up for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualification match against Guadeloupe on 16 June 2023.[7]

Caps and goals are correct as of 16 June 2023, after the match against Guadeloupe.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Nick Townsend	(1994-11-01) 1 November 1994	7	0	Newport County
	1GK	Taj Moore	(2005-06-16) 16 June 2005	0	0
	2DF	Karanja Mack	(1987-08-24) 24 August 1987	58	0	Parham
	2DF	Daniel Bowry	(1998-04-29) 29 April 1998	17	1	Worthing
	2DF	Aaron Taylor-Sinclair	(1991-04-08) 8 April 1991	9	0	Airdrieonians
	2DF	Jahzime Barthley	(2005-04-13) 13 April 2005	0	0	All Saints United
	3MF	Quinton Griffith (Captain)	(1992-02-27) 27 February 1992	73	9	Five Islands
	3MF	Josh Parker	(1990-12-01) 1 December 1990	37	5	Oxford City
	3MF	Shevorn Phillip	(1996-09-09) 9 September 1996	16	1	Liberta
	3MF	TJ Bramble	(2001-05-09) 9 May 2001	10	0	Chelmsford City
	3MF	Ashley Nathaniel-George	(1995-06-14) 14 June 1995	7	1	Maidenhead United
	3MF	Henry Antyon	(2002-04-23) 23 April 2002	1	0	Hoppers
	3MF	Karique Knight	(2005-04-03) 3 April 2005	1	0	Urlings Golden Stars
	3MF	Jahzinho O'Garro	(2002-12-12) 12 December 2002	1	0	Parham
	3MF	Kemio Williams	(1998-10-26) 26 October 1998	1	0	Old Road
	3MF	Shakore Simon	(2000-02-10) 10 February 2000	0	0
	4FW	Shalon Knight	(2000-03-04) 4 March 2000	3	0	Swetes
	4FW	Whitney Gonsalves	(1999-01-07) 7 January 1999	1	0
	4FW	Zayn Hakeem	(1999-02-15) 15 February 1999	1	0	Shepshed Dynamo
	4FW	Eroy Gonsalves	(2006-09-18) 18 September 2006	0	0

The following players have also been called up to the Antigua and Barbuda squad within the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Shahoi Dorsett	(2004-06-23) 23 June 2004	0	0	Villa Lions	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
GK	Zaieem Scott	(2004-07-09) 9 July 2004	0	0	Green City	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF	Zaine Francis-Angol	(1993-06-30) 30 June 1993	26	0	Oldham Athletic	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF	Mahlon Romeo	(1995-09-18) 18 September 1995	14	0	Cardiff City	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF	Leroy Graham	(1999-12-07) 7 December 1999	13	0	Five Islands	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF	Kendukar Challenger	(1997-01-24) 24 January 1997	10	0	All Saints United	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
DF	Vashami Allen	(1997-04-09) 9 April 1997	8	0	Jennings	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
MF	Myles Weston	(1988-03-12) 12 March 1988	14	9	Dagenham & Redbridge	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
MF	Kwame Kirby	(2001-11-28) 28 November 2001	0	0	Villa Lions	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
MF	Zafique Drew	(2003-08-30) 30 August 2003	0	0	Villa Lions	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
FW	Javorn Stevens	(1998-05-09) 9 May 1998	23	1	Greenbay Hoppers	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
FW	D'Andre Bishop	(2002-10-02) 2 October 2002	17	3	Belišće	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
FW	Raheem Deterville	(1999-12-01) 1 December 1999	6	0	Old Road	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023
FW	D'Jarie Sheppard	(2003-06-28) 28 June 2003	4	0	Willikies	v.  Barbados; 26 March 2023

CFU Championship & Caribbean Cup record											Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	Squad		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1978	Fourth place	4th	5	1	1	3	4	8	Squad		2	1	1	0	3	0
1979	Did not qualify										2	0	0	2	0	2
1981	Did not enter										Did not enter
1983	Fourth place	4th	7	2	2	3	11	10	Squad		4	2	2	0	10	5
1985	Did not qualify										2	1	0	1	2	2
1988	Runners-up	2nd	5	1	4	0	5	4	Squad		2	1	1	0	2	1
1989	Did not qualify										4	3	0	1	4	2
1990											3	0	1	2	2	5
1991	Did not enter										Did not enter
1992	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	2	12	Squad		3	3	0	0	8	0
1993	Did not qualify										2	1	0	1	1	1
1994											2	1	0	1	10	3
1995	Group stage	7th	3	1	0	2	3	8	Squad		2	0	2	0	3	3
1996	Withdrew										Withdrew
1997	Group stage	6th	2	0	0	2	1	5	Squad		Qualified as hosts
1998	Fourth place	4th	5	2	0	3	11	9	Squad		3	2	1	0	11	3
1999	Did not qualify										3	0	1	2	2	5
2001											3	0	1	2	4	5
2005											3	1	0	2	6	8
2007											6	2	0	4	8	17
2008	Group stage	7th	3	0	2	1	3	6	Squad		6	4	1	1	16	10
2010	Group stage	5th	3	1	0	2	2	4	Squad		3	1	2	0	2	1
2012	Group stage	8th	3	1	0	2	3	3	Squad		Qualified as hosts
2014	Group stage	7th	3	0	1	2	2	7	Squad		6	4	1	1	12	4
2017	Did not qualify										6	3	0	3	10	8
Total	Runners-up	11/25	42	9	11	22	47	76	—		67	30	14	23	116	85

***Red border color indicates that Antigua and Barbuda was the host nation.

Key

  Champion   Runners-up   third place   fourth place   Qualified

CONCACAF Nations League record
Season	Division	Group	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA	P/R	Rank
2019−20	B	C	6	3	0	3	8	17		21st
2022–23	B	A	6	3	0	3	5	7		21st
Total			12	6	0	6	13	24	21st

CONCACAF Nations League history
First match	Jamaica 6–0 Antigua and Barbuda  (6 September 2019; Montego Bay, Jamaica)
Biggest win	Antigua and Barbuda 2–1 Aruba  (9 September 2019; North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda)  Antigua and Barbuda 2–1 Guyana  (11 October 2019; North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda)  Aruba 2–3 Antigua and Barbuda  (18 November 2019; Willemstad, Curaçao)  Barbados 0–1 Antigua and Barbuda  (2 June 2022; Gros Islet, Saint Lucia)  Antigua and Barbuda 1–0 Guadeloupe  (5 June 2022; Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Biggest defeat	Jamaica 6–0 Antigua and Barbuda  (6 September 2019; Montego Bay, Jamaica)
Best result	—
Worst result	—

Key

  Promotion   Safety   Relegation