Nesbeth To Miss Opening Qualifying Games
[Written by Stephen Wright]
LeiLanni Nesbeth, the Bermuda women’s national team forward, will miss the opening two Concacaf W Gold Cup qualifying matches as she recovers from a hip injury.
Nesbeth was not named in coach Naquita Robinson’s squad of 23 players for their group C of League B opener against the Dominican Republic at home on September 22 and the away match against St Vincent and the Grenadines four days later.
The 22-year-old played an integral role in helping Bermuda win the gold medal at the NatWest International Island Games in Guernsey, the Channel Islands, in July, scoring two goals in a 4-0 win over the Western Isles in the final.
“I’m just coming back from a hip flexor injury from the summer,” Nesbeth told Bernews.
“I’m trying to get my minutes back up before my important last season [with Florida State University] before I play pro.”
Nesbeth, who helped FSU win the NCAA National Championships in 2021, has previously played for Brighton & Hove Albion women and is being monitored by professional teams in England and the United States.
Forwards Nia Christopher and Jaden Masters, who both missed the Island Games, have been included in Bermuda’s squad; however, they are unavailable for the match against St Vincent and the Grenadines because of college commitments.
Experienced striker Aaliyah Nolan has returned to the fold and will offer extra firepower after scoring a hat-trick for Bradford City women in a 5-2 victory over Wakefield AFC earlier this month.
