Barthley and Gomes appointed to leadership roles as young Benna Boys get set for Mexico clash

The Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) has confirmed the captaincy appointments for the U20 National Men’s Football Team ahead of their 2026 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship campaign.

Dajari Barthley has been named captain, with Tegan Gumbs appointed as vice-captain.

Barthley, 18 years old and wearing the number six shirt, brings a wealth of experience and character to the role of captain. He’s a graduate of the Baptist Academy of Antigua, where he was recognised as the country’s most outstanding student athlete following the 2024 CSEC Examinations. He went on to Bede’s Senior School in the United Kingdom, where he recently completed his A Levels and established himself as one of the leaders in their strong sporting environment, also representing the school in cricket.

A two-time nominee for the National Junior Sportsman of the Year award, he has been called up to train with the national senior team, and his composure, character and quality on the pitch made him the natural choice to wear the armband.

Gumbs, the squad’s starting goalkeeper, brings an equally compelling story to the vice captaincy. Born in Chicago, Illinois and enrolled at Purdue University Fort Wayne in Indiana, Tegan kept four consecutive clean sheets throughout the qualifying campaign in Costa Rica — not conceding a single goal as Antigua and Barbuda won all four matches to advance to Mexico. His consistency, calmness and presence between the posts have made him a natural leader within the group.

The squad opens their Group B campaign against host nation Mexico on 24 July at the Estadio Cuauhtemoc in Puebla, followed by Guatemala (27 July) and Costa Rica (30 July). Antigua and Barbuda are the sole Eastern Caribbean representative in the twelve-nation field.