Michail Antonio Misses Key Match After Losing Passport

Michail Antonio, Jamaica striker will miss Monday’s CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final second leg against the United States after losing his passport confirmed Jamaica manager Steve McClaren. Antonio, who plays for West Ham was already absent for Thursday’s 1-0 loss to the U.S. in the first leg due to suspension. However, the 34-year-old and fellow forward Kaheim Dixon will miss the second leg in St. Louis, Missouri as they were unable to travel due to losing their passports.

McClaren explained that it was too late to obtain new passports and visas in time for the match at Energizer Park. Michail Antonio, who has scored five goals in 21 appearances for Jamaica since his debut in 2021 had hoped to play a key role in the second leg. Despite his absence, McClaren is optimistic about his team’s chances. Jamaica is aiming to bounce back from their loss in the first leg and secure a place in the Nations League semi-finals, building on their strong third-place finish last season.

Looking ahead to the match, McClaren expressed confidence in his team’s ability to perform away from home where they have shown good form recently. He acknowledged the challenge posed by the U.S. on home soil describing them as a completely different team when playing at home. Despite the obstacles including the loss of two key players, McClaren emphasized the team’s belief and optimism heading into the crucial second leg. Jamaica will need a strong performance to overturn the deficit and progress to the semi-finals.