WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao national team coach Dick Advocaat has called up AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Kiyani Zeggen for the first time as the Blue Wave prepares for four CONCACAF Nations League matches in just 11 days.
The 20-year-old goalkeeper is part of a 23-man squad announced by the Curaçao Football Federation (FFK). Zeggen is the only player receiving his first senior national team call-up.
The squad marks several changes from the group that represented Curaçao at its historic first FIFA World Cup this summer. Eight players from the 26-man World Cup squad are absent, while Jurich Carolina, Nicky Souren, Jordi Paulina and Nigel Thomas return or have been added alongside newcomer Zeggen.
Goalkeeper Trevor Doornbusch, defenders Riechedly Bazoer and Deveron Fonville, midfielders Kevin Felida and Godfried Roemeratoe, and forwards Sontje Hansen, Gervane Kastaneer and Brandley Kuwas have not been selected for the upcoming Nations League matches.
Several of Curaçao’s established players remain in Advocaat’s plans, including Eloy Room, Joshua Brenet, Armando Obispo, Juninho Bacuna, Leandro Bacuna, Tahith Chong, Jürgen Locadia and Kenji Gorré.
The announcement comes shortly after the 78-year-old Advocaat extended his contract with Curaçao through the end of July 2027. Under the Dutch coach, Curaçao qualified for the World Cup for the first time in the country's history. Although the team finished last in its group, it earned its first-ever World Cup point with a scoreless draw against Ecuador.
Curaçao will begin its CONCACAF Nations League campaign away against Costa Rica on Thursday, September 24. Three days later, the Blue Wave will host Nicaragua at the Ergilio Hato Stadium in Willemstad.
The team will remain at home for an October 1 encounter with Trinidad and Tobago before traveling for the return match against the same opponent on October 4. Curaçao competes in League A, Group A.
The four matches will be Curaçao’s first official international fixtures since the World Cup and mark the beginning of a new cycle under Advocaat.
Curaçao’s 23-man squad consists of goalkeepers Tyrick Bodak of Vitesse, Eloy Room of Miami FC and Kiyani Zeggen of AZ Alkmaar.
The defenders are Joshua Brenet of Kayserispor, Jurich Carolina of FK Borac Banja Luka, Roshon van Eijma of AE Kifisia, Sherel Floranus of PEC Zwolle, Juriën Gaari of Al Abha, Armando Obispo of PSV Eindhoven and Shurandy Sambo of Burnley.
The midfielders are Juninho Bacuna of Gaziantep FK, Leandro Bacuna of Igdir FK, Tahith Chong of Sheffield United, Livano Comenencia of FC Zürich, Ar’Jany Martha of Telstar, Tyrese Noslin of Barnsley and Nicky Souren of SC Cambuur.
Advocaat selected Jeremy Antonisse of AE Kifisia, Kenji Gorré of Maccabi Haifa, Nigel Thomas of ADO Den Haag, Jürgen Locadia of Tampa Bay Rowdies, Jearl Margaritha of SK Beveren and Jordi Paulina of Fortuna Düsseldorf as forwards.