“As a result of this, the Panamanian Football Federation is unable to make a new addition to the National Team for the Copa América USA 2024, given that CONMEBOL had already accepted its incorporation into the competition and the only way to replace a player is due to injury or illness approved by the Medical Commission,” Fepafut explained in a statement
“The National Team will face the Copa América USA 2024 with a roster of 25 players in its official call,” indicated the federation. After Godoy’s injury, coach Thomas Christiansen proposed the name of Cummings, who plays for the Xelajú club in Guatemala, to replace him.
The Substitution was endorsed by CONMEBOL and Christiansen extended the invitation to the player, who accepted in the first instance after authorization from his club, which announced the news on its social networks.
Fepafut clarifies in the note that after sending the substitution form due to player injuries to CONMEBOL, “at night, the player Harold Cummingsse communicated again with coach Thomas Christiansen declining his call to the Copa América,” without explaining the reasons.
Before Godoy’s injury was confirmed, the Canaleros coaching staff had already faced difficulties in putting together their list of 26 called up, due to the injuries of defenders Andrés Andrade and Fidel Escobar and forward Cecilio Waterman.
Godoy suffered a grade 2 injury to the left rectus femoris during the friendly match against Paraguay last Sunday. The Panama soccer team left this Wednesday for the United States to begin its journey in the continental competition and on Thursday it will hold its first training session on American soil.
Panama is part of group C, along with the United States, Bolivia and Uruguay and will debut this Sunday, June 23 against Uruguay at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Central American Red arrives at the Copa América with the challenge of surpassing the performance of its first experience eight years ago, also in the United States, in which it did not make it past the group stage after achieving only one victory against Bolivia.
