Canada’s women’s national team has confirmed its participation for the 2010 Cyprus Women’s Cup. Canada will be one of eight teams participating in this year’s event which runs 24 February to 3 March. Canada will play four international games in the tournament in Larnaka and Nicosia, Cyprus.

“It is important that we play in tournaments like this as we prepare for the CONCACAF Gold Cup,” said national head coach Carolina Morace. “It gives us the opportunity to assess our national players in competition against top international opponents.”

Canada is in Group 2 along with Switzerland, England and South Africa. That means the top-two teams from last year’s event – champion England and runner-up Canada - go head-to-head in the group phase on 26 February at GSP Stadium in Nicosia. Canada will be looking to avenge its 1:3 loss to England in last year’s final.

“Our expectations for the 2010 tournament are much higher than they were for the 2009 tournament,” said Morace, who made her debut with Canada in 2009. “We have grown as a group since last year’s competition.”

Canada’s other group matches are 24 February against Switzerland and 1 March against South Africa. Those two matches will be played at Ammochostos Stadium in Larnaka. From the group phase, the first-place team advances to the final, the second-place team advances to the match for third place, the third-place team advances to the match for fifth place, and the fourth-place team advances to the match for seventh place. That final day of competition is 3 March in both Larnaka and Nicosia. Group 1 opponents are Italy, Scotland, New Zealand and Netherlands.

This will be Canada’s third participation in the annual Cyprus Women’s Cup. The team finished first in 2008 and second in 2009. Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners, is currently preparing for this fall’s CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup. That confederation championship will serve as the qualification route for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. Canada will be looking to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for a fifth-consecutive time.