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Hospitality | Dundee (A)
13th November 2024
David Babunski, Jort van der Sande and Richard Odada are set to return to international action across three different continents this week as North Macedonia, Bonaire and Kenya contest their final matches of 2024.
DAVID BABUNSKI
David Babunski has featured regularly for a North Macedonia side which has stormed to the top of UEFA Nations League C Group Four.
They have netted eight goals in four matches, conceding just once in the process, and stringing together their longest run of consecutive victories since March 2022, with three. The Lions also currently hold their joint-highest FIFA ranking in 15 years, sitting 65th.
Blagoja Milevski’s men need just one point from clashes with Latvia and the Faroe Islands to secure an historic promotion into League B for the first time since the competition’s inception.
The 30-year-old jets off to the Balkans having missed just one William Hill Premiership match this term - a metronomic figure in the Terrors’ engine room.
Fellow United star Kristijan Trapanovski was also included in the squad, however had to withdraw due to a hamstring injury sustained at Easter Road.
Babunski will therefore have to content himself with brother, Dorian’s company in camp, who plies his trade for Swiss outfit Grasshopper Zurich.
MATCHES
North Macedonia v Latvia | Thursday 14 November | 7:45pm
North Macedonia v Faroe Islands | Sunday 17 November | 2pm
JORT VAN DER SANDE
Jort van der Sande's Bonaire will base themselves in Central America as El Salvador host the final round of CONCACAF Nations League C fixtures.
Bonaire go head-to-head with the table-topping hosts in the early hours of Friday morning, with three points a necessity should they wish to finish top of the pile themselves.
In the reverse fixture, van der Sande opened his international account with a well-placed header in second-half stoppage time, however El Salvador held firm to record a 2-1 triumph.
?????????? Jort van der Sande marked his fifth @FootballBonaire cap by opening his international account in a @CNationsLeague battle with El Salvador
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) September 9, 2024
He becomes the first #DUFC player to score for their country since 2??0??1??9??, when Lawrence Shankland struck against San Marino ???? pic.twitter.com/GuzB6sMeJk
The Dutch municipality return to action less than 72 hours later, contesting their final Group One battle with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Sunday evening.
MATCHES
Bonaire v El Salvador | Friday 15 November | 1am
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Sunday 17 November | 8pm
RICHARD ODADA
Since being handed his senior debut by Jacob Mulee in 2021, Richard Odada has gone on to secure 20 caps for Kenya.
The towering midfielder has also started the last 15 consecutive matches, a run stretching back 17 months.
Impressive displays at domestic level have ensured that will likely continue for Odada, as he was named in the Harambee Stars’ latest squad to round off their Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying campaign.
However, their hopes of reaching next year’s edition of the historic competition hang in the balance after back-to-back defeats to Cameroon last month.
This Friday’s meeting with Zimbabwe can be deemed a must-win - four points currently separate the sides with just six left to play for.
Namibia, who sit bottom of the table yet to register a point, are Kenya’s last opponents of Group J and 2024, with nothing less than a convincing victory required again should they wish to appear at their sixth AFCON.
MATCHES
Zimbabwe v Kenya | Friday 15 November | 4pm
Kenya v Namibia | Tuesday 19 November | 1pm
