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Four USL Championship players to watch during the international break

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 11/13/24, 1:25PM EST

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Championship standouts set to feature in Concacaf Nations League, Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying


Birmingham Legion FC stalwart Phanuel Kavita has earned his first senior national team call-up, being selected by Rwanda for its Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying games against Libya and Nigeria. | Photo courtesy Birmingham Legion FC

An array of players from the USL Championship and USL League One will be in action on the international stage over the upcoming week, including in the Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinals, and the conclusion of the group stages in Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying and Concacaf Nations League B and C.

Here are four players to keep an eye on from the USL Championship over the next week, each of whom could have a role to play in key games for their country.

Oalex Anderson (North Carolina FC)
St. Vincent and the Grenadines vs. Monserrat, Friday, 3 p.m. ET (Paramount+)

St. Vincent and the Grenadines sits in second place in Group A going into the final week of Concacaf League B action, but Vincy Heat is going to need El Salvador to slip up at home with the pod being hosted by La Selecta if they’re to have a chance to top the group. At the same time, there’s major incentive for Oalex Anderson and Hartford Athletic’s Kyle Edwards and their St. Vincent and the Grenadines teammates to try and make sure of two convincing victories against Monserrat and Bonaire this weekend as they aim for a place in the preliminary rounds for the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup next summer, which goes to the two second-place clubs with the best records of the four League B groups.

Phanuel Kavita (Birmingham Legion FC)
Rwanda vs. Nigeria, Monday, 11 a.m. ET

It’s quite the feat to earn your first senior international call-up at 31 years old, but that’s exactly what Phanuel Kavita has achieved in being selected by Rwanda for a pair of crucial Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers over the next week, joining Rhode Island FC’s Jojea Kwizera and One Knoxville SC’s Innocent Nshuti in the squad. Sitting third in its group, Rwanda will look to take victory at home against fourth-placed Libya before it faces a showdown with first-place Nigeria with a chance to reach the Finals potentially on the line.

Jearl Margaritha (Phoenix Rising FC)
Curaçao vs. St. Lucia, Monday, 6 p.m. ET (Paramount+)


Phoenix Rising FC's Jearl Margaritha is set to feature for Curaçao against Saint Lucia next Monday in a key game in Concacaf Nations League B, Group B. | Photo courtesy Ashley Orrellana / Phoenix Rising FC

The battle for first place in Concacaf Nations League B, Group B, looks set to come down to the final game as first-place St. Lucia visits second-placed Curaçao. For the hosts, Phoenix Rising FC’s Jearl Margaritha could have a role to play after performing brightly at the end of the USL Championship regular season as it first looks to navigate past last-placed Saint Martin on Friday night in the opening game of the round. With the winner of the group earning a promotion to League A in the CNL’s next cycle and an automatic berth in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup group stage, the stakes should be high for this one.

Romario Williams (Indy Eleven)
United States vs. Jamaica, Monday, 8 p.m. ET (TNT / Universo)

The veteran forward regained his place in Jamaica’s National Team in October and in turn produced his fourth goal for the Reggae Boyz, scoring against Nicaragua in a victory that helped secure the side’s spot in the Quarterfinals of the Concacaf Nations League. There are certainly high-profile names alongside him in the Jamaican attack led by West Ham United’s Michail Antonio and Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey, but Williams could get a chance to show what he can do over two legs against the United States as the sides meet for a place in next March’s Semifinals.

USL Championship & League One National Team Call-Ups – November, 2024

Burundi (1) – Pacifique Niyongabire (Tampa Bay Rowdies)

Curacao (1) – Jearl Margaritha (Phoenix Rising FC)

Dominican Republic (1) – Edison Azcona (Las Vegas Lights FC)

El Salvador (1) – Nelson Flores Blanco (San Antonio FC)

Ethiopia (1) – Surafel Dagnachew (Loudoun United FC)

French Guiana (1) – Thomas Vancaeyezeele (Hartford Athletic)

Gambia (1) – Baboucarr Njie (Oakland Roots SC)

Grenada (2) – Damian Barker John (Phoenix Rising FC), Darius Johnson (Phoenix Rising FC)

Haiti (1) – Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC)

Honduras (1) – J.C. Obregon Jr. (Charlotte Independence)

Jamaica (3) – Tyreek Magee (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC), Jahmali Waite (El Paso Locomotive FC), Romario Williams (Indy Eleven)

Puerto Rico (1) – Nicolas Cardona (Miami FC)

Rwanda (3) – Nshuti Innocent (One Knoxville SC), Phanuel Kavita (Birmingham Legion FC), Jojea Kwizera (Rhode Island FC)

Sierra Leone (1) – Emmanuel Samadia (Hartford Athletic)

St. Vincent and Grenadines (2) – Oalex Anderson (North Carolina FC), Kyle Edwards (Hartford Athletic)

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