The 2026 season of the Ecuabet League is set to kick off on Friday, February 20, with a match between Orense and LDU Quito. The match will take place at the Estadio 9 de Mayo, a challenging venue for LDU Quito. The team, coached by Tiago Nunes, will have to contend with the absence of Leonel Quiñónez, their usual left-back, who is suspended from the previous season for a red card.

Quiñónez, aged 32, was sent off during the penultimate game of the final hexagonal match of the 2025 Ecuabet League season against Libertad, resulting in a two-match ban. He served one game of his suspension at the end of the last season, which leaves him needing to complete another match during the new season. This suspension comes as a significant loss for the team as they aim to perform well in the opening match of the new season.

In light of Quiñónez's absence, it is likely that Josué Caicedo, a promising young player, will step in as his replacement. Caicedo has gained valuable experience during the pre-season and impressed with his performance especially during the Noche Blanca. Coach Tiago Nunes will be counting on him to deliver a strong performance in their opening game against Orense as LDU Quito looks to start the season positively despite this setback.