Nicaragua national football team

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 Nicaragua
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)
  • La Azul y Blanco (The Blue and White)
  • Los Pinoleros
  • Albiazules
Association Nicaraguan Football Federation
Sub-confederation UNCAF (Central America)
Confederation CONCACAF (North America)
Head coach Enrique Llena
Asst coach Mauricio Cruz
Captain Denis Espinoza
Top scorer Emilio Palacios (11)
Home stadium Estadio Cacique Diriangén
FIFA code NCA
FIFA ranking 157
Highest FIFA ranking 132 (February 2009)
Lowest FIFA ranking 193 (May 2001)
Elo ranking 177
First colours
Second colours
First international
 El Salvador 9–0 Nicaragua Nicaragua
(El Salvador; 1 May 1929)
Biggest win
 Nicaragua 4–1 Puerto Rico 
(Managua, Nicaragua; 26 February 2012)
Biggest defeat
 Brazil 14–0 Nicaragua Nicaragua
(Mexico; 17 October 1975)
CONCACAF Championship
& Gold Cup
Appearances 3 (First in 1963)
Best result 6th, 1967

The Nicaragua national football team is the national team of Nicaragua and is controlled by the Nicaraguan Football Federation. It is among the weakest teams in Central America and achieved its first qualification to a major international competition in 2009, when they qualified for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup after a 2–0 win over Guatemala in the 2009 UNCAF Nations Cup.[1]

Due to American influence throughout the country's history, baseball has more of a following as both a pursuit and spectator event in Nicaragua than football.

Contents

History[edit]

Nicaragua travelled to El Salvador for their first ever international, losing 9-0 to the hosts on 1 May 1929. They did not play another match for over twelve years, until the qualifying group for the 1941 CCCF championship in Costa Rica. They lost all 4 games: 7-2 to the hosts Costa Rica on 10 May, 8-0 to El Salvador on 13 May, 9-1 to the Netherlands Antilles on 15 May and 5-2 to Panama on 18 May. Therefore, Nicaragua finished bottom of the group and did not make the final group.[2]

Records[edit]

World Cup record[edit]

The Nicaraguan national football team has never qualified for the World Cup. Their last attempt was for the 2014 World Cup, which they failed to qualify from a group with Panama and Dominica. The pinoleros ended in second place defeating Dominica twice and losing to Panama, first only by one.

CONCACAF Championship record[edit]

Gold Cup record[edit]

UNCAF Nations Cup record[edit]

Year Round GP W D L GS GA
Costa Rica 1991 Preliminary round 2 0 0 2 2 5
Honduras 1993 Preliminary round 2 0 0 2 0 8
El Salvador 1995 Preliminary round 2 0 0 2 0 7
Guatemala 1997 First round 2 0 0 2 2 11
Costa Rica 1999 First round 2 0 0 2 0 2
Honduras 2001 First round 3 0 0 3 2 19
Panama 2003 Sixth Place 5 1 0 4 1 11
Guatemala 2005 Group Stage 3 1 0 2 2 9
El Salvador 2007 Sixth Place 4 1 0 3 6 14
Honduras 2009 Fifth Place 4 1 2 1 5 6
Panama 2011 Sixth Place 4 0 1 3 2 7
Costa Rica 2013 Group Stage 3 0 1 2 2 5
Total Fifth Place 36 4 4 28 24 104

CCCF Championship record[edit]

  • Costa Rica 1941 – Fifth Place
  • El Salvador 1943 – Fourth Place
  • Costa Rica 1946 – Sixth Place
  • Guatemala 1948Did not enter
  • Panama 1951Third Place
  • Costa Rica 1953 – Sixth Place
  • 1955 to 1960Did not enter
  • Costa Rica 1961 – Ninth Place

Central American and Caribbean Games[edit]

  • Cuba 1930 - Did not qualify
  • El Salvador 1935Did not qualify
  • Panama 1938 - Did not qualify
  • Colombia 1946 - Did not qualify
  • Guatemala 1950 - Group Stage
  • Mexico 1954Did not qualify
  • Venezuela 1959 - Did not qualify
  • Jamaica 1962 - Did not qualify
  • Puerto Rico 1966 - Did not qualify
  • Panama 1970 - Group Stage
  • Dominican Republic 1974 - Quarter Final
  • Colombia 1978 - Group Stage
  • Cuba 1982 - Group Stage
  • Dominican Republic 1986 - Did not qualify
  • Mexico 1990Did not qualify
  • Puerto Rico 1993 - Did not qualify
  • Venezuela 1998 - Quarter Final
  • El Salvador 2002Quarter Final
  • Colombia 2006 - Did not qualify

Pan American Games record[edit]

Personnel[edit]

Current staff[edit]

Head Coach Spain Enrique Llena
Assistant Coach Nicaragua Mauricio Cruz
Physical Coordinator Brazil Flavio Da Silva

Recent results and upcoming fixtures[edit]

Date Tournament Location Opponent Score Nicaragua scorers
September 2, 2011 2014 World Cup Qualifier Roseau,
 Dominica
 Dominica 2 – 0 Leguías Goal 1' Rodríguez Goal 36'
September 6, 2011 2014 World Cup Qualifier Managua,
 Nicaragua
 Panama 1 – 2 Torres Goal 1' (og)
October 7, 2011 2014 World Cup Qualifier Panama City,
 Panama
 Panama 1 – 5 Reyes Goal 88'
November 11, 2011 2014 World Cup Qualifier Managua,
 Nicaragua
 Dominica 1 – 0 Leguías Goal 57'
January 18, 2013 2013 Copa Centroamericana San José,
 Costa Rica
 Guatemala 1 – 1 Quijano Goal 41'
January 20, 2013 2013 Copa Centroamericana San José,
 Costa Rica
 Costa Rica 0 – 2
January 22, 2013 2013 Copa Centroamericana San José,
 Costa Rica
 Belize 1 – 2 Figueroa Goal 85'

Current squad[edit]

The following 23-man squad was selected for the 2013 Copa Centroamericana. Caps and goals updated as January 22, 2013.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Denis Espinoza (1983-08-25) 25 August 1983 (age 29) 30 1 Nicaragua Deportivo Walter Ferretti
1GK Justo Lorente (1988-06-31) 31 June 1988 (age 24) 1 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí F.C.
1GK Josimar Narváez (1993-06-31) 31 June 1993 (age 19) 0 0 Nicaragua Diriangén FC
2DF David Solórzano (c) (1980-11-05) 5 November 1980 (age 32) 33 1 Nicaragua Diriangén FC
2DF Felix Zeledón (1983-11-24) 24 November 1983 (age 29) 23 1 Nicaragua Real Esteli F.C.
2DF Josue Quijano (1991-03-10) 10 March 1991 (age 22) 15 1 Nicaragua Deportivo Walter Ferretti
2DF Salvador García (1982-03-13) March 13, 1982 (age 31) 11 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí F.C.
2DF Maximo Gamez (1989-11-28) 28 November 1989 (age 23) 9 0 Nicaragua Managua F.C.
2DF Donald Parrales (1989-11-28) 28 November 1989 (age 23) 8 0 Nicaragua Deportivo Walter Ferretti
2DF Alejandro Tapia (1993-03-28) March 28, 1993 (age 20) 2 0 Nicaragua Diriangén FC
2DF Nasser Valverde (1993-01-04) January 4, 1993 (age 20) 1 0 Nicaragua Diriangén F.C.
3MF Félix Rodríguez (1984-04-27) 27 April 1984 (age 29) 17 2 Nicaragua Real Estelí F.C.
3MF Marlon Medina (1985-08-06) August 6, 1985 (age 27) 12 1 Nicaragua Real Estelí F.C.
3MF Raúl Leguías (1982-10-09) 9 October 1982 (age 30) 12 3 Nicaragua Managua F.C.
3MF Axel Villanueva (1989-08-10) 10 August 1989 (age 23) 12 2 Nicaragua Deportivo Walter Ferretti
3MF Medardo Martínez (1988-10-20) 20 October 1988 (age 24) 6 0 Nicaragua Deportivo Walter Ferretti
3MF Elvis Figueroa (1988-12-18) 18 December 1988 (age 24) 5 1 Nicaragua Managua F.C.
3MF Manuel Rosas (1983-10-14) October 14, 1983 (age 29) 3 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí F.C.
4FW Samuel Wilson (1983-04-04) 4 April 1983 (age 30) 27 4 Nicaragua Real Estelí F.C.
4FW Henry Garcia (1990-07-21) 21 July 1990 (age 22) 5 0 Nicaragua Juventus Managua
4FW Daniel Reyes (1990-07-21) 21 July 1990 (age 22) 4 1 Nicaragua Diriangen FC
4FW Carlos Chavarría (1993-10-09)9 October 1993 (aged 19) 1 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí F.C.

Recent call-ups[edit]

The following players have been called up to the Nicaragua squad in the past 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Lester Acevedo (1992-03-20) 20 March 1992 (age 21) 0 0 Nicaragua Diriangén v.  Cuba; May 29, 2011
DF Erick Téllez (1989-11-28) 28 November 1989 (age 23) 5 0 Nicaragua Diriangén for the 2013 Copa Centroamericana
DF Yader Balladares (1987-01-22) 22 January 1987 (age 26) 0 0 Costa Rica Cartaginés for the 2013 Copa Centroamericana
DF Manuel Gutiérrez (1987-01-20) January 20, 1987 (age 26) 3 0 Nicaragua Diriangén v.  Cuba; May 29, 2011
MF Juan Barrera (1989-05-02) 2 May 1989 (age 24) 18 1 Venezuela Deportivo Petare for the 2013 Copa Centroamericana
MF Marcos Roman (1989-08-10) 10 August 1989 (age 23) 3 0 Nicaragua Diriangén for the 2013 Copa Centroamericana
MF Marcos Mendez (1989-08-10) 10 August 1989 (age 23) 5 0 Nicaragua Diriangén for the 2013 Copa Centroamericana
MF Milton Bustos (1982-04-19) April 19, 1982 (age 31) 11 2 Nicaragua Xilotepelt v.  Guatemala; January 22, 2011
MF McPerson Garth (1992-03-22) 22 March 1992 (age 21) 1 0 Nicaragua Diriangén v.  Cuba; May 29, 2011
MF Norman Eugarrios (1987-01-09) 9 January 1987 (age 26) 5 0 Nicaragua Chinandega v.  Guatemala; May 29, 2011
MF Elvis Pinel (1992-03-22) 22 March 1992 (age 21) 1 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Panama; Oct 19, 2011
FW Rudel Calero (1982-12-20) 20 December 1982 (age 30) 19 2 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Cuba; May 29, 2011
FW Emilio Palacios (1983-10-08) 8 October 1983 (age 29) 20 9 Nicaragua Xilotepelt v.  Cuba; May 29, 2011
FW Wilber Sánchez (1979-10-20) 20 October 1979 (age 33) 17 0 Nicaragua Real Estelí v.  Cuba; TBA
FW Norfran Lazo (1990-09-08) 8 September 1990 (age 22) 4 0 Nicaragua Deportivo Walter Ferretti v.  Panama; Oct 19, 2011

Nicaragua Coaches[edit]

Name From To
Nicaragua Octavio Edmundo Salas Urbina 1941 ?
Hungary Eduardo Kosovic [1] 1941 ?
Costa Rica Santiago Bonilla 1952 ?
Hungary Ferenc Mészáros 1967 ?
Nicaragua Livio Bendaña Espinoza 1967 1970
Argentina Omar Muraco 1969 1970
Argentina José "Chingolo" Rodríguez ? ?
Nicaragua Omar Zambrana ? ?
Nicaragua Salvador Dubois Leiva 1991,1992
Nicaragua Mauricio Cruz Jiron 1993 2001
Italy Maurizio Battistini 2002 June 2004
Argentina Marcelo Javier Zuleta January 2005 September 2005
Argentina Carlos De Toro September 2007 December 2008
Nicaragua Mauricio Cruz Jiron December 2008 October 2008
Nicaragua Ramón Otoniel Olivas November 2008 December 2009
Spain Enrique Llena January 2010 –

References[edit]

External links[edit]