Imps Man Omitted From Vital World Cup Qualifiers

November 11, 2025 Gary Lincoln City, News 0

Credit Graham Burrell

Justin Obikwu has been omitted from the Trinidad and Tobago squad for their vital World Cup qualifiers against Jamaica and Bermuda.

Obikwu is one of three who have twice been called up this season, but while Ivan Varfolomeev and Dexter Lembikisa have been called up, Obikwu has not.

This doesn’t mean the Doncaster game was always going to go ahead, as I understand there are provisional lists etc, and we called a game off last season when one of our players appeared on that, and then was not called up. The rules are clear as fog for those of us on the outside looking in.

Trinidad are on the cusp of being eliminated from qualifying for the World Cup next summer, and these two matches will define their future.

They’re currently four points behind Jamaica, who top the group, and three behind Curaçao. They must beat Jamaica, and hope that Curaçao draw or lose to Bermuda (which is unlikely). Even then, they must beat Bermuda and hope that the Reggae Boys draw with Curaçao. There is also goal difference to throw in there; they’ve got a worse difference than the two sides above them.

Credit Graham Burrell

Still, none of this will be of consequence to Obikwu, who has not been called up. His place has been taken by Roald Mitchell, a New York Red Bulls player with nine goals in 15 outings in MLS Next Pro, which is like their ‘B’ division.

That does mean he should be in contention for minutes against Doncaster, and possibly tonight against Barnsley in the EFL Trophy.