Jamaican forward Michail Antonio will miss the second leg of the Nations League quarter-final against the USA on Monday evening after losing his passport.
The West Ham star has scored five goals in his 21 appearances for the side since making his debut in 2021 and played a key role in Jamaica's progress to the last eight of the tournament.
Antonio had to sit out the 1-0 defeat to the USA in the first leg due to suspension and it has been revealed he will also miss the second leg in St. Louis, Missouri.
Jamaican boss Steve McClaren confirmed that Antonio and Kaheim Dixon will not be able to travel to the country after losing their passports. The Jamaican federation reportedly tried to arrange visas for the two players but were told it was too late.
“Antonio and Dixon lost their passports, it was too late to get new ones and to get visas to come here, so they are missing,” the former Manchester United assistant told reporters on Sunday.
Jamaica and Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock will also miss the match due to injury.
Reggae Boyz faces a tough test to overcome a 1-0 deficit against Mauricio Pochettino's team on Monday evening. But despite their unfavorable odds, McClaren remains optimistic that his team can move forward.
“I think we were unlucky to come away with a defeat, albeit by just one goal,” he said. 'We felt we did enough to draw the match. In the end we didn't, but we're still tied.
“Outside the home, we've been in good shape lately. This will be a completely different game. We know that USA is a completely different team on home soil, so we expect another very difficult match, but come here with optimism and belief.'
Ricardo Pepi's fifth-minute winner on Friday evening was enough for Pochettino to claim his first competitive win as USMNT boss. The defending champions can book a place in the 2025 Nations League Finals with a draw, which will be held on March 20 and 23 in Inglewood, California.
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