‘This one hurts deeply’ - Bailey apologises as Reggae Boyz’ World Cup dream crashes

Reggae Boy Leon Bailey has broken his silence following Jamaica's heartbreaking exit from World Cup contention, admitting the pain of falling short is "deep" after years of chasing the dream.

In an emotional Instagram post hours after the defeat, Bailey said the moment was one he had worked towards for years, but conceded that it simply was not enough.

"The day I've worked so hard for finally came, and unfortunately it wasn't the result we all wanted... to fall short of getting over the line and qualifying for the World Cup hurts deeply," he wrote.

Bailey, who has been one of the team's key attacking threats, apologised to Jamaicans and thanked fans for their unwavering support, saying he carries the nation's pride every time he steps onto the field.

"I'm truly sorry that I couldn't get us over the line. You deserve that moment of celebration," he added.

His words came after the Reggae Boyz saw their last shot at qualification slip away in a tense Intercontinental Playoff clash against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Jamaica, who got a lifeline after missing out on automatic qualification in the Concacaf group stage, entered the playoff as a final chance to reach the global showpiece set for Mexico, Canada and the United States.

After edging New Caledonia 1-0 to book a place in the playoff final, the Boyz put up a gritty fight against DR Congo, holding firm for 100 minutes in a tense contest.

But just when it seemed the game could swing either way, disaster struck. A corner kick found its way into the box and was bundled home by Axel Tuanzebe, breaking Jamaican hearts and sealing a 1-0 defeat.

The loss means DR Congo will take their place at the World Cup, joining Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K.

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