Canada w17 opens Azerbaijan 2012 against Nigeria
Posted on 21 September 2012 in FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Canada will open the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Azerbaijan 2012 against group opponent Nigeria on Saturday 22 September. The match at Tofig Bahramov Stadium kicks off at 17.00 local. The fixture will be televised in Canada beginning at 08.00 ET / 05.00 PT on CBCSports.ca. Live updates wil be available throughout the match on Twitter: @CanadaSoccerEN.
"Nigeria is becoming more and more organised in its women's football program," said Canadian U-17 coach Bryan Rosenfeld. "They are definitely a squad with which to be reckoned. They have strengths with which we will have to handle, but we also have strengths with which they will have to handle."
Like Canada, Nigeria is participating in its third FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup tournament. In fact, Nigeria has participated in all nine FIFA women's youth tournaments (U-20 and U-17), winning a silver medal at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Germany 2010.
Canada's lineup features goalkeepers Maryse Bard-Martel, Taylor Bucklin and Kailen Sheridan, defenders Lindsay Agnew, Kadeisha Buchanan, Madeline Iozzi, Nicole Loncar, Victoria Pickett, Rebecca Pongetti, Aman Shergill and Larisa Staub, and midfielders/forwards Summer Clarke, Jasmin Dhanda, Ashley Lawrence, Jordyn Listro, Elissa Neff, Amandine Pierre-Louis, Emily Pietrangelo, Nichelle Prince, Rebecca Quinn and Valérie Sanderson.
The 16-team FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Azerbaijan 2012 runs 22 September to 13 October, with group matches played from 22-30 September. This year's tournament features players born 1995 or later. This marks the third edition of the biennial tournament.
